In a first-of-its-kind sensitisation and awareness training on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, more than 650 police personnel underwent a four-day program, with senior Goa police officials admitting that such an initiative was long overdue.
Personnel from the State Police Control Room, Traffic Police and Pink Force were trained in batches during the sessions themed “Inclusive Policing for a Barrier-Free Goa”. The programme covered legal rights, accessibility, communication techniques and social perspectives on disability.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Varsha Sharma stressed that sensitisation was essential for every police officer. “We are all equal. We learn in the same schools, live in the same society. It is our duty to support persons with disabilities, even in our busiest schedules,” she said, addressing the personnel on the concluding day of the programme.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Roy Pereira pointed out that with over five percent of Goa’s population living with disabilities, equipping police officers with such skills was “a necessity long overdue.”
Senior officials emphasised the need to extend the training to taluka-level police stations across the State. They said the initiative set a national example, positioning Goa as a leader in barrier-free policing that upholds the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities.
Secretary to the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Taha Haaziq, noted that Goa is the first state in the country to publish a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for police on interacting with persons with disabilities.
“The training was highly interactive, and participants found it much-needed. It gave them new insights and confidence to handle real-life situations,” he said.
