About his work with the Aldona Asilo. A tale of selflessness, inspiration and Goan village ingratitude.
Many years ago I was President of the Managing Committee of the Old Age home Aldona, Till recently no one asked us what work we did and what we accomplished till recently. Finally, someone did ask as I am giving my reply, Very concise. Thank you for finally asking “what did I do for the old people”. In all these years people only spread rumors, insults and destroyed our good names without care. Not one came to the home to ask us about the work we had done. How many of those who gleefully spread the rumors even spent an hour at the home visiting the residents? Why am I being targeted, when I was the president and all decisions were arrived at by the committee? Why was Sr Perpetua Fernandes, The manager targeted, she who worked hard to improve the lives of the residents? I was told the word was “Who is the guy to come to Aldona and teach us” The rest of the Committee, Roland Melo, Honorato Sequeira, Monica, Damascene, Maria, and Jose Caridade were always present when decisions were taken and worked very hard together with Sr Perpetua and the nuns to make the lives of the residents as comfortable as possible. They can and will vouch for everything that follows. We should have spoken earlier but had decided to let it pass. We were ready to let all our hard work remain unspoken for peace in the village. So what did we do? When I was first elected as President, it was not of my choosing, but I accepted it as it was an opportunity to help others. I was immediately warned by many people who said to me “ Don’t become President, they will spoil your name”. This advice proved true beyond any doubt. Some came to me asking me to remove Monica, I refused as she was elected by the General Body, and if they thought she was good enough, we were willing to work with her. When we took over without any handing over, it took us a fortnight to understand the scope of the responsibility we had taken up. The first issue we tackled was the all-pervading smell of urine. Sr Perpetua was given a free hand to purchase and use any cleaners, purifiers, and diffusers to get rid of the smell. Which she did. Sr Perpetua, Roland, and I then made a tour of the other institutions Her orders run and made a list of observations to follow in our institute to improve the quality of life of our residents. The first change was to stop referring to them as inmates but to call them residents. Give them their dignity. To change the Concept from a place where they are waiting to Die, to one where they are alive and enjoying the society of their peers. The residents were living out of bags stuffed under their beds. Where rats were having a field day. We arranged Cupboards for them Sr Perpetua organized bed linen and all the beds had covers. The whole outlook of the dormitories and rooms was changed. The refectory was reorganized by improving the lighting, restructuring the tables, and providing a healthy atmosphere to enjoy their meals. Sr Perpetua ensured They were served fish even during the monsoons when most of us could not afford it. Sr Perpetua herself used to go to market carry the heavy bags to save a few rupees. We arranged for a doctor to visit the home twice a week, We also arranged for the trainee nurses to help out in the home, We had a Physiotherapist visit the home, she was also asked to advise us on the equipment we needed to purchase and set up a rehab center in the home which could also be used by Aldona villagers who would need it. This remained unfulfilled as we were not given the opportunity to complete this plan. Nobody but no one came and asked us what we were doing. Vision Hospital offered to give our residents discounted treatment and if I remember correctly one of our donors offered them spectacles. Also, Dr. Rupa treated them very well and offered to do their teeth, and never refused a call. When we took over the home there was a balance of payment of around Rs 80,000/-. All that money was recovered. We then put in place online payment to make it easy for people to pay their dues. All the money was being deposited and withdrawn from only one account. We immediately opened accounts with HDFC smooth transfer of funds, We restarted our other accounts and each account was used for a particular purpose, All monies coming into the Home were receipted, each carried the Bank account it was deposited into and the use for which it was given. We brought clarity into the finances. Even when people offered meals to the residents they paid the caterer directly. When we realized the nuns were getting only Rs 1500 each as stipend and the worker's Rs 3000 a month We immediately resolved to increase the nun's stipend to Rs 3000/-, Sr Perpetua to be paid Rs 500 more as Superior and given Rs 350 a month for mobile expenses also an amount of Rs 1000 as health benefits. This was the least we could do in thanks and support for the hard work they put in day in and day out. We realized there were people who could afford to pay but were staying in the Dormitory for free. This was unacceptable as we had to turn away genuinely poor people. To make space the residents were told to shift to a room and make space for the poor. One lady who spent her life looking after her mother was placed in the dormitory after her mother's death, She had a fracture and her family refused to pay. We then found out she had a share in the house, we reminded them unless they looked after her well she would claim her share, needless to say, they cooperated. Another Lady whose children would visit Aldona but never take her home, leaving her bereft and Angry to the extent she would abuse the nuns was told in no uncertain terms if he did not take her home, She would be delivered there as their mother needed and deserved the love and warmth of family. Another lady was occupying a double room but, paying for the price of one. This too was stopped and monies recovered. There was an occasion whena resident's sponsor died and the family had to clear the estate. They informed us of their difficulties and we agreed to work with them in the interest of the resident. Many more like this. We worked towards making the home pay for itself and, using the money saved, to pay for ever-increasing hospital bills, outings, entertainment for the residents. Towards this end, we worked to bring in more paying residents and our numbers rose from about 17 to about 33/35. We built a new ward for six paying residents. With plans to update the resident's rooms and residence of the nuns. We streamlined admission, put in-office staff, Kept the office attended with instructions that any member of the general body would be given any information, Total transparency was what we aimed for. We aimed to become a professionally run institution, We were invited to Govt run seminars where the people there were shocked at our ability to run such a large institution on the rates we were charging. We also brought in regulations to protect the health of our residents as some would overeat, and mess up their rooms and the nuns had to clean the mess. We could not bear it, but our nuns God bless them cleaned the room thoroughly. Unfortunately, one resident would not follow the rules and was hence asked to leave as she would drink alcohol and eat outside food clandestinely. Even after numerous requests, she refused to stop. She also indulged in other activities which could have had serious repercussions on the Institute. But we will leave it at that as she is no more with us. I can write a lot more, But I will stop now and say I as the President was fortunate and grateful to have had the opportunity to have worked with a hardworking, cooperative, and focused committee, all worked with one Goal, to improve the lives of the residents of the old age home Aldona, I am extremely thankful to the many Donors who without blinking an eye, donated generously and enabled us to achieve all that we achieved. I am also thankful for the support the institution received from the ex-managing committee members, many people of Aldona, and other parts of Goa who helped in many small ways whenever we needed help. to the Caterers who did their best on every occasion. I am thankful to the General Body for having given me the opportunity to do what I like doing best, Helping others. Many will say a lot, especially those who don’t know a lot. But I speak from my own experience in helping others and to those who are fearful of taking the step, please don’t hesitate to step forward and help others, the smile on their faces the gratitude shining in their eyes, the knowledge that we can make a difference in their lives is a blessing from God. We are called to help one another, so do not be afraid. Work with an open heart and a clear Conscience, You will have nothing to fear. With regards to the situation, let me make it clear the person who spoke about kicking me out was himself forced to leave the meeting. I resigned and the committee resigned on their own accord. This resignation was much against the wishes of the General Body. From the reaction of those at the meeting. God bless Roland. Toronto.
