"ARC OF HOPE" - HOME FOR THE AGED (FEMALES) IN CANDOLIM.

During the Portuguese rule and even later on for some more years, there was only one Asilo (Old Aged Home) and that too only for males in Candolim at Pintos Vaddo.  Nowhere else was there any such an Asilo in the surrounding areas nor in the ambient villages.  The inmates in this Asilo which is still running well under the care of Goa government, are from all over Goa.  During those good old days spending one’s life in Asilo means a sort of lowliness but now it is somewhat different. And precisely because of this mindset Asilos are mushrooming almost in every village all over Goa.  In Candolim itself there are now two, one for the females  as well known as “ARC OF HOPE” situated at Murod, opposite to the Church.

Seen above is "ARC OF HOPE"

ARC OF HOPE was the initiative taken under the banner of St. Vincent de Paul and was started with the blessings of the then Archbishop Raul Gonsalves in April 1981. Now at 92 sheltered at Arc of Hope, Ms Esmeralda Gomes as In-Charge of this Home shouldered the responsibility for 32 long years to look after the inmates there. The current Home was inaugurated in 1984 in a plot gifted by one local lady Sr. Cristalina when she felt it was the need of the hour to house the inmates in a more spacious place.  In order to raise funds for the construction of this Home the people behind this project went begging for help almost to every house in Candolim besides organizing Dramas and other activities. Additionally, like a Bom Samaritan, Mr. Frank Simoes a kind hearted local helped this project financially and with the assistance of the then Spiritual Director Fr. Victor Rodrigues who supervised the working of this project, this project got a boost.

Seen above is one of the rooms for the inmates

In 1987 the ground floor followed by the first floor two years later was completed and now the entire project is ready as seen in the picture, thanks to the extra ordinary efforts put in by the dynamic team of the management that supervises this ARC OF HOPE, it has the capacity to accommodate 40 inmates under the care of efficient In-Chharge Ms Teodolina who is ably supported by two assistants, namely Lolita and Tulsi.  Besides, weekly once a doctor visits the Home to check the inmates’ health condition and a Nurse too every morning.

Seen above are some of the inmates

To keep the inmates happy they are provided with TV and In-door games and those who are capable are allowed to do the Stitching, Hair-dressing and other such jobs. The birthdays of the inmates are also celebrated with their family members at Arc of Hope.

Once a week the local Parish Priest celebrates the Holy Mass for the inmates and daily they recite 3 Rosaries. For the security of the inmates, a C.C.T.V. is also installed.

                                         One inmate preparing Envelopes from old Papers

Seeing the humanitarian work done at ARC OF HOPE, the villagers and visitors help generously the Home in Cash and Kind besides once a month on first Sunday outside the Church they do the collection in aid of their needs.

By seeing the poor – needy – aged with a smile on their faces, the great mission of Vincentian looks fulfilled.  The great credit for this achievement goes to all those involved in running this great project. May God Bless them all.

A.Veronica Fernandes.

POLITICAL SCENARIO OF CALANGUTE CONSTITUENCY.

The recent confrontation in Calangute between the two political heavyweights, namely Calangute MLA Michel Lobo and Calangute Dpty. Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira is the clear sign of the fierce events to take place all over Goa.  It is said “once tasted, Lion will never give up the blood (power)”. Both my friends are very popular in Calangute constituency.  As an MLA, Mr. Lobo has done a good developmental work in the constituency as no  MLA in the past has done but that does not mean he did a favour, on the contrary Mr. Lobo has done his duty for which he was elected. However, he surely deserves compliments for doing his duty well in fulfilment of his given promises. Where all other previous MLA’s failed Mr. Lobo succeeded in Calangute constituency.

Mr. Lobo is become a Lokhpriya in Calangute constituency and being so his candidature for BJP is a forgone conclusion. Last time also with the support of Joseph Sequeira, Mr. Lobo won his Seat but will it happen again minus Joseph support?  It is doubtful especially when the wave is anti BJP mainly because of its communal agenda even though Lobo is liked by the constituents there. But  Lobo is bound to follow the party diktats in which case he will have to surrender to the party decision meekly however much he may dislike those dictates because party is supreme otherwise he will be castigated.  He may be Secular,  Non-Communal and Pro-Goan but his party is not. That means he has to follow his party’s principles.

On the other side, Congress  party has not so far  declared its party candidate for Calangute Constituency though two names are making noise, one of Joseph Sequeira who enjoys better public support and the other of last defeated candidate who if re-nominated there is every possibility for history to repeat and again Congress to lose and lose miserably because now people do not want candidates who are proud, revengeful, arrogant and those who accumulate wealth thru illicit means.   

The best option for Congress and other parties trying to unseat the BJP is to get together under one Umbrella which is of paramount importance. If non-BJP parties want to contest the Calangute Seat independently and individually then all are going to lose and lose miserably.  This is the reality in Calangute Constituency.  

A.Veronica Fernandes.

WHAT WE WANT FROM OUR CANDIDATES.

Election is approaching very fast. Before any candidates are imposed on us without consulting us, we must make our wish very clear on our candidates.

First of all, our candidates whoever they may be, must have a good character, they must not be known to demand bribe earlier as Panchayat Members or MLA’s or Ministers or in any form of their public life, they must declare their wealth and also they must declare how they accumulated their wealth.  We want to know how many of the candidates managed to own fleet of expensive cars, number of Hotels, number of Mistresses and number of Bouncers. We also want to know whether they are involved in human trafficking and demanding sexual favours for the official work they do.   

We further want to know from these candidates what was their role in getting justice for Fr. Bismarq.  Do they approve the government decision of attacking Catholic Church thru sudden IT circular and do they feel it is wrong to select only the Catholic Church while leaving others scot-free? Do they support MEI - grant to Church Schools?  Do they support Konkani and its elevation in Roman script? Will they swear that they will not defect to any other party once elected? Will they observe Secularism in dealing with the public even by opposing their party stand and their government principle?  Will they oppose their government stand if it goes against secularism and minorities?

This is the only opportunity for the electorate to discuss with their representatives and get the proper answers  to their queries thru the direct process of democracy.  Hence, we must make good use of this opportunity to grill them once in five years.  

These are the very important queries to all the election contestants we as electorate must ask when they come at our doors for campaigning and canvassing.  This is the only opportunity the voters are getting to reprimand our candidates for their failure in fulfilling their given promise.  This will be theright time for us to show our real democratic power.  Early Democracy is based on this prnciple.  This is called real "DEMOS KRATIA"

A.Veronica Fernandes.