PANAJI: The State government will take steps to make Goa India’s first beggar-free State, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar announced in his Budget speech on Friday.
“We will conceive a full fledged rehabilitation centre for beggars and destitute,” Mr. Parrikar told the State Assembly while speaking on “social welfare, women and child development, and tribal welfare” during the course of his Budget speech.
Mr. Parrikar said despite the Goa, Daman and Diu Prevention of Begging Act, 1972, “Number of beggars [are] increasing day-by-day.” He announced the scrapping of State Planning Board, and proposed to come up with an alternative to it.
The Chief Minister said in order to tighten and streamline the bureaucracy, he will implement the Goa (Right of Citizens to Time-bound Delivery of Public Services) Act, 2013.
Mr. Parrikar said it was his vision to make the State kerosene-free by proposing to provide LPG gas connections to 12,863 non-LPG families.
He also announced plans to strengthen the State Vigilance Department, constituting a special squad to investigate all types of vigilance cases, including those related to disproportionate assets.
Mr. Parrikar said he is determined to enforce accountability in financial sector through strict measures.
He also promised to set up old-age homes, “with niche facilities,” after expressing concern over the increase in the number of senior citizens affected by various diseases and disorders in the State. He also declared to set up a taskforce of “competent people in the field” to come up with a State Geriatric care policy.
Children with autism
He said more than 5,800 children have been diagnosed with autism in Goa, and announced plans to set up autism complexes with help from NGOs, and Autism Society of India.
The budget also proposed to make Goa garbage-free by 2020.
