PANAJI
The Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) has taken strong objection to ruling dispensation’s alleged misleading statements in the Legislative Assembly regarding disabled-friendly infrastructure.
Association President Avelino de Sa has slammed Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, Transport Minister Mauvin Godinho and Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phaldesai with misleading the House.
“We take strong objection to Ministers misleading the House by providing false information on disability matters. Khaunte stated that 24 beaches in Goa are accessible for persons with disability (PwDs) whereas the fact is that only one beach is accessible,” he said.
De Sa also referred to Godinho’s claim that 63 Kadamba buses are accessible for (PwDs), which in reality is only 20 buses. The association also dismissed Phaldesai’s statement on the floor of the House about the implementation of the Mental Health Act 2017, claiming that the Rules are not notified for the Act to be in force.
“These false and irresponsible statements by the Ministers in the House on sensitive matters of persons with disability have hurt the sentiments of persons with disability in Goa as many people with disability in Goa cannot get out of their houses for education or employment due to lack of accessibility in Goa and it has brought a bad name to the state. Hence we demand strong action against the Ministers for misleading the house with false information,” he said.
The Association has also objected to the use of the word ‘handicapped’ or ‘differently-abled’ by the legislators arguing these words are derogatory and banned by the Goa Government in 2016. “We demand that the said words be deleted from the proceedings of the House and the MLAs be warned against the use of such words while referring to PwDs,” he added.
