Goemkarponn desk
PANAJI: Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) has demanded action against officers for sanctioning and disbursing payments for newly constructed inaccessible buildings in violation of the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016
Addressing the media DRAG President Avelino de Sa said “It is very shocking to note that the newly constructed cyclone shelters in all talukas and the panchayat ghars of Reis Magos, Goa Velha and Sodium Siolim are not accessible for persons with disability and elderly and in violation of the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016.
The newly renovated Kala Academy and Mopa Airport are also not accessible. Accessibility for persons with disability does not only mean ramps at the entrance but it includes lifts, accessible toilets, tactile and braille signages and reserved parking which is missing in all the newly constructed public buildings mentioned above. There has to be accountability of public funds. There is no point in organizing Purple Fests if newly constructed buildings are not going to be accessible for persons with disability. We have written to the State Disability Commissioner, Chief Secretary and Hon. Chief Minister demanding an inquiry into the matter and action against concerned officers for sanctioning and disbursing payments for newly constructed inaccessible government buildings. We also demand that all public government buildings should take NOC from the office of the state disability commissioner before sanctioning final payment to the contractor.
DRAG has also written to the Hon. Governor regarding the reopening of the Sanjay School Vocational Centre which has been closed since September 2023 and has not been reopened to date. 110 students with severe intellectual disability have been forced to stay at home since then and are facing various hyperactivity issues.
DRAG has also expressed its gratitude to State Disability Commissioner Guruprasad Pawaskar for its landmark judgement to stop government grants to schools and colleges denying admission to students with disability.
