Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: PWD Minister Digambar Kamat inaugurated a special stall for persons with disabilities at the ongoing Damodar Saptah Fair in Vasco, in the presence of Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, Siddesh Shripad Naik and other dignitaries.
The initiative, facilitated by MLA Krishna Salkar, aims to ensure that persons with disabilities can participate in the Saptah festivities with dignity and without facing difficulties. The stall has been provided with necessary space and facilities, with Salkar personally bearing the expenses for the arrangements.
Speaking on the occasion, Kamat appreciated Salkar’s efforts and said such initiatives were important to ensure that public festivals and religious events remain accessible to everyone.
He said persons with disabilities should not be treated as an afterthought during public events and urged organisers across Goa to adopt similar inclusive arrangements.
Kamat said the initiative at the Saptah Fair should serve as an example for other fairs and feasts across the state. He stressed that dedicated facilities and spaces for persons with disabilities should become a standard feature at major public gatherings.
Salkar said his objective was to ensure that persons with disabilities get an opportunity to enjoy the Saptah festivities without inconvenience. He said the arrangements were made at his own cost as he believed that the community should be able to participate in celebrations on an equal footing.
“We have provided the space and facilities because persons with disabilities are an integral part of our society. They should not feel that they are being left out of our festivals,” Salkar said.
Siddesh Shripad Naik also welcomed the initiative, saying that such efforts highlighted the importance of making public celebrations more accessible and people-friendly.
He said inclusivity should become part of the planning process for fairs, festivals and other public events.
The special stall is expected to facilitate participation of persons with disabilities in the Saptah Fair while also highlighting the need for improved accessibility and facilities at public gatherings across Goa.
