Panaji: Chief minister Pramod Sawant said on Monday that govt will carry out a review and enhance grants provided to all NGOs presently through the social welfare department. He launched an online portal for the Atal Asra housing scheme. And while awarding the first Gomantak Seva Puraskar to 36 NGOs in the state in recognition of their contribution, Sawant said that these awards will be presented annually by state govt.“I have asked them to review the grants being given presently. These grants were fixed years ago and now they need to be revised due to the rising costs. We need to make use of technology too so many NGOs will need to buy laptops, get internet. You’ll also need to, at the same time, expand the area of your work and the quality of work. Work is required to be done in new areas too. If Goan NGOs do carry out this work, then there are NGOs coming from outside to do this work,” said the CM.He said right from waste management to career counselling, a lot of areas have scope for NGO involvement.“Tie up with the govt and carry out your work. I am ready to provide the support from the govt. Not all NGOs work with social welfare department. Some work with health department, some with tribal department and some with AIDS Control Society, some in the cooperative sector. Submit your concepts in writing with how you plan to expand your work and grants will be provided to you. There are many individuals too in Goa willing to give aid, if your ideas are presented well, they will provide the support,” Sawant told the NGOs.The CM said that there are already some NGOs in Goa doing commendable work who are being recognised with the Gomantak Seva Puraskar, including an organisation which is taking care of 6,000 stray cattle.“Just imagine the traffic chaos, accidents and how many human lives will be lost besides deaths of cattle if these 6,000 cattle are left on the roads,” said Sawant.Social welfare minister Subhash Phaldesai asked more elderly persons to come forward to get aid to open Umeed Centres in their area. He said under the scheme a group of elderly persons are paid rent in their area to open a centre, where they can socialise, watch TV and carry out other activities.He said this aid will help the elderly fight isolation and depression.Phaldesai said that the aid being provided under the Gomantak Seva Puraskar may seem nominal but will go a long way, offering encouragement to NGOs in the state.
