Goa May Get New Old Age Homes and Dedicated Divyangjan School

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale has stated that the Central Government is ready to support the establishment of additional old age homes and welfare facilities for Divyangjan in Goa. Addressing the media at the State Secretariat, the Minister said the ten old age homes currently operated by NGOs with assistance from the Goa Government are functioning effectively.

Athawale said the Centre’s old age home scheme has the capacity to support two to three more facilities in the State, with a proposal for one unit in each district. According to him, every facility can initially accommodate 25 residents and may later be expanded to 50 beds depending on requirements. He added that NGOs can submit proposals online and assured that the Union Government is prepared to provide financial grants to eligible organisations.

The Minister also focused on welfare measures for Divyangjan in Goa. Referring to Census figures, he said the State has nearly 33,000 Divyangjan, while over 11,000 beneficiaries currently receive pensions. He pointed out that Goa does not yet have a dedicated government school for differently-abled persons and said the Centre is willing to extend assistance for setting up such an institution. Athawale added that discussions are ongoing with Goa Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai to further strengthen support systems for Divyangjan in the State.

Highlighting the impact of Central welfare schemes in Goa, the Minister said over four lakh people have benefited from the Mudra loan scheme, while around 29,000 beneficiaries have received support under Ayushman Bharat. Athawale also remarked that incidents of atrocities against Dalits in Goa remain comparatively low. He praised the leadership of Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and encouraged citizens to promote domestic tourism and economic savings, echoing the appeal made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.