Team Goemkarponn
MARGAO: The South Goa District Administration has constituted the District Monitoring Committee for Accessible Elections (DMCAE) to ensure an inclusive and barrier-free electoral process for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and senior citizens during the forthcoming Goa Legislative Assembly Elections 2027.
The committee has been constituted under the chairpersonship of Ms. Egna Cleetus, IAS, Collector and District Election Officer, South Goa District, in the presence of Shri Ramesh Gaonkar, Additional Collector-II, and Ms. Shruti Kumtekar, MIC-I.
The DMCAE brings together representatives from various government departments and institutions with expertise in accessibility, social welfare, education, special education, infrastructure and related fields.
The committee comprises Dr. Balaji Sudas Shenvy, Nodal Officer for Accessibility Elections and PwD & Welfare Measures; Shri Shrikant Pednekar, Deputy Director, Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities; Smt. Pradnya Desai, Assistant Director, Directorate of Social Welfare; Shri Vidhyadatta B. Naik, Deputy Director of Education, South Educational Zone; Ms. Aditi Phaldessai, Special Educator, Lokvishwas Pratisthan’s Special School; Ms. Manju Sashidharan, Principal, Dnyanvardhini Divyang Training College, Vasco; Shri Vishant Nagvekar, Research Assistant, Goa Forest Department; Ms. Isha Karkal, Assistant Engineer, PWD Works Division VIII (Buildings), Margao; and Ms. Rubiya R.S. Kakodkar, Chetna Education Society School for Special Children, Curchorem.
The committee will monitor accessibility-related arrangements, facilitate coordination among concerned departments and institutions, and address issues affecting the participation of PwDs and senior citizens in the electoral process.
The formation of the committee is in pursuance of the applicable Election Commission of India guidelines on Accessible Elections for the forthcoming Goa Legislative Assembly Election 2027.
The initiative is aimed at ensuring that eligible voters, irrespective of disability or age-related mobility challenges, are able to participate in the electoral process with appropriate accessibility support.
