A lifeline for the forgotten: CM Khandu pledges support for Deepak Nabam’s shelter home

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 24, 2025

In a significant boost for social welfare, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has pledged budgetary support for infrastructure development and operational expenses of the Deepak Nabam Living Home, a shelter for the underprivileged and senior citizens managed by philanthropist Deepak Nabam.

Inaugurating the newly constructed ‘A Home for No Home,’ a 50-bed inmates’ hostel at the shelter’s expanded premises in Sopo near Doimukh on Monday, Khandu lauded Nabam’s unwavering commitment to caring for the elderly, orphans, and the homeless.

“The government cannot always reach every marginalized and underprivileged individual. This is where compassionate individuals like Shri Deepak Nabam Ji step in. His relentless service has even been acknowledged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji in Mann Ki Baat,” Khandu remarked.

Khandu, who first visited the Itanagar shelter in 2021, was moved by the substandard living conditions of the inmates. Acknowledging the need for better facilities, he encouraged Nabam to find a larger space for a more suitable infrastructure. Due to a lack of government policies for land acquisition in such charitable ventures, Khandu personally funded the purchase of a sprawling 21,000 sq. meter land at Sopo.

Taking another step forward, Khandu laid the foundation stone for a Halfway Home for the mentally disabled within the new premises. “I am truly honored to support this noble cause by inaugurating the ‘A Home for No Home’ 50-bed hostel and laying the foundation for the Halfway Home for the Mentally Disabled, fulfilling a promise I made in 2021,” he stated.

To ensure the sustainability of the mission, Khandu committed an annual budgetary allocation of at least Rs 20 lakh. Anticipating an increase in the number of shelter residents, he also assured funding for further infrastructural developments and instructed the deputy commissioner and PWD to collaborate with Nabam in designing a master plan for a fully equipped, future-ready facility. He further assured that reserve funds would be allocated in the upcoming budget.

Appealing to the public, Khandu called for widespread support and donations, urging those who could afford to contribute to do so. “Not everybody can run such a mission even if they wanted to. It requires another level of compassion, dedication, and sincerity. We are fortunate to have Deepak Nabam leading this humanitarian cause, and we must stand firmly behind him,” he observed.

Recognizing that the mission started by Nabam is an ongoing service to humanity, Khandu suggested institutionalizing the shelter as a registered society or trust to ensure its longevity and further expansion.

“Compassion and care define a society’s true strength. My deepest appreciation to Deepak Nabam Ji and his team for their selfless dedication to humanity,” Khandu concluded.

The event was attended by Rajya Sabha MP Nabam Rebia, local legislator Nabam Vivek, and officials from the district administration, who extended their support to the noble cause.