Editor, Goemkarponn
AERIAL VIEW
The Goans landing in Mumbai find it extremely difficult to find accomodation as staying hotels for this treatment which takes months becomes unaffordable for them.
In such a awry situation, every Goans landing in Mumbai look for accomodation at Goa Bhavan in Juhu.
Sadly, this place which helped hundreds of Goans during their treatment is under renovation for more than 5 years now and the Public Works Department has no clue when it will be completed.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant in his Budget speech recently announced that Rs 42 cr have been earmarked for renovation of Goa Bhavan in Mumbai and Goa Sadan in New Delhi and hopefully the money is spent in right earnest to complete the project.
Interestingly, it took Goa government five years to earmark the budget for the Bhavan, which has helped save several Goan lives.
While the Goa Bhavan works are still pending, here comes another announcement from the Goa Chief Minister that Goa government will build a Goa Bhavan in Ayodhya for the comfort of Goans who travel to the Uttar Pradesh city for darshan of Ram Lalla at Ram Janmabhoomi.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
Every year hundreds of Goans land in Mumbai for treatment of cancer in either Tata Memorial Hospital or the Bombay Hospital as Goa is yet to have a high class cancer treatment in State.
Of Course the government and Health Minister Vishwajit have announced several measures to this effect like th MoU with the Tata Memorial Hospital to start facilities at the Super Speciality block at Bambolim.
However, till the facilities start the Goans will need to continue their treatment at Mumbai hospital but the biggest issue is that of accomodation.
The Goans landing in Mumbai find it extremely difficult to find accomodation as staying hotels for this treatment which takes months becomes unaffordable for them.
In such a awry situation, every Goans landing in Mumbai look for accomodation at Goa Bhavan in Juhu.
Sadly, this place which helped hundreds of Goans during their treatment is under renovation for more than 5 years now and the Public Works Department has no clue when it will be completed.
Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant in his Budget speech recently announced that Rs 42 cr have been earmarked for renovation of Goa Bhavan in Mumbai and Goa Sadan in New Delhi and hopefully the money is spent in right earnest to complete the project.
Interestingly, it took Goa government five years to earmark the budget for the Bhavan, which has helped save several Goan lives.
While the Goa Bhavan works are still pending, here comes another announcement from the Goa Chief Minister that Goa government will build a Goa Bhavan in Ayodhya for the comfort of Goans who travel to the Uttar Pradesh city for darshan of Ram Lalla at Ram Janmabhoomi.
Well there is no harm in making the announcement but the Chief Minister has to look at what are his priorities – Goa Bhavan at Mumbai or Goa Bhavan at Ayodhya? What Goa needs first?
Agreed, there are sentiments attached to Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, and there was a similar plan when one Chief Minister visited Shri Saibaba temple in Shirdi, and immediately he announced a Goa Bhavan for comfort of Goan pilgrims but till date the announcement has just remained on paper.
Saving lives should always be the priority and Goa CM needs to understand that accomodation in Mumbai for treatment is much costlier than the pilgirmage to Ayodhya or Shirdi where there are hundreds of affordablke places.
In Mumbai, a reasonable accomodation for two people costs nothing less than Rs 3000/ day and add to it the food and treatment, it becomes unaffordable for average Goans.
Another issue is whenever the Goa Bhavan in Mumbai or Goa Sadan in New Delhi comes up it must be made affordable for Goans as the rates right now in Delhi are very high at Rs 3000/day for a a room.
Several IAS/IPS aspirants gave been landing in Delhi and face similar issues and this is where the government has to step in and take a decision on what it wants.
Hence, may Lord Rama instill the “Good Sense” in the entire Goa Cabinet and the BJP leaders who visited the lord’s birthplace to give priority for saving lives rather than taking darshan from teh comforts of Goa Bhavan.
