ITANAGAR, Mar 9: Deeply moved by the humanitarian services rendered by the Deepak Nabam Living Home with exemplary dedication, Chief Minister Pema Khandu today announced to donate Rs 50 lakh from his personal account.
Khandu made the commitment during his visit to the Home situated at Senki View here in the capital which caters to the needs of the mentally disturbed, orphans, destitute, old-age people and addicts. The shelter is run by Deepak Nabam and his wife Protima Nabam entirely by themselves without any financial assistance from the government or any organization. “It was in January this year on the occasion of my second son’s birthday I asked one of my personal staff to look out for a destitute home or an orphanage in the state capital doing a commendable job for offering some amount for a grand meal to the inmates. He selected Deepak Nabam Living Home,” Khandu recounted, adding that he also went through a few video clips of the Home. “The visuals shook my conscience and I never knew someone was doing such a great service to humanity. I saw there were many inmates but was appalled by the living condition and infrastructure which was very poor. Literally, it broke my heart,” the visibly emotional Chief Minister said. After coming to know that the Home receives no funds or assistance under any Central or State government scheme and is being run solely through the efforts of its founder Deepak Nabam and from a few well-wishers, I decided to visit it, Khandu stated. “Our government is committed to the welfare of destitute, orphans, old-age people and addicts equally just like other citizens,” he reiterated.
Going around the Home and interacting with the inmates, the Chief Minister lauded Deepak Nabam, his wife and the volunteers for their yeoman services and expressed the need for its immediate infrastructural improvement. “Creating infrastructure is not a big deal for the government but what matters are upkeep, proper use and sustenance of the created infrastructure,” he said. While assuring to fulfil all the requirements the Home needs like common kitchen, male ward, flood protection, security fencing, drainage, etc., the CM expressed confidence that the assets would be adequately taken care of by Deepak Nabam. Agreeing that many such NGOs are delivering great humanitarian services across the state which need hand-holding by the government, Khandu informed that in the ensuing e-Pragati meeting, he would direct all the Deputy Commissioners to submit the list of such NGOs so that the government can frame a mechanism to help them through the Department of Social Justice, Empowerment & Tribal Affairs (SJETA). “The state government will offer grant-in-aid to such NGOs instead of in-practice corpus funds. Low interest rates of these funds offered by banks hardly benefit the concerned NGO,” the CM opined. “Deepak Nabam is doing a great job but he alone cannot sustain. He has reached the limit of his personal resources and now the government has to step in as well as the well-to-do citizens. We throw huge amounts of money in politics, can’t we contribute a little to such NGOs?” Khandu said in a self-introspective mood. He also inaugurated a newly constructed Half-way Home building besides flagging off an ambulance in presence of Minister Health and SJETA Alo Libang and officials.

Established in 2015, Deepak Nabam Living Home has so far provided shelter to around 1500 inmates of which many have recovered or found a new home. For the 160 inmates currently sheltered at the Home, it is their only refuge and ray hope. CMO

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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