Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Government of Goa is set to launch a state-wide Comprehensive Survey of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in a major initiative aimed at empowering individuals with disabilities and improving access to welfare schemes.
The survey will be carried out by the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in coordination with the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities.
The initiative seeks to develop an accurate and updated database of all persons with disabilities across the state, which will serve as a crucial foundation for planning, policy-making, and extending targeted welfare benefits.
Currently, the state relies on data from the 2011 Census, which was based on the earlier Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995, and covered only seven categories of disabilities.
However, with the implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, the scope has expanded to include 21 categories.
The upcoming survey is intended to reflect this broader legislative framework and ensure that all eligible Divyangjan are identified and integrated into the mainstream through effective planning, service delivery, and empowerment initiatives.
To facilitate the process, a tender has been floated through the Government of Goa’s e-tendering platform.
Trained field workers will conduct the survey at the grassroots level, covering various panchayats and municipal councils under the supervision of the department.
Described as a landmark initiative, the survey is expected to significantly contribute to the empowerment of persons with disabilities by improving their access to services, benefits, and opportunities, and promoting their active participation in the socio-economic development of the state.
For more information, the public can contact the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of Goa at 0832-2912601 or via email at [dir-depwd@goa.gov.in](mailto:dir-depwd@goa.gov.in).
