PANAJI
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday expressed the State's willingness to host Purple Fest annually.
Addressing the gathering at the inaugural of the three-day event in Panaji, Sawant also proposed to hold the national event in Goa if other States are reluctant or not interested in this event.
"We are ready to host the Purple Fest as an annual festival in Goa if the other States are not ready to," he said as the country's first-ever celebration of diversity and inclusiveness, got off to a grand start, in the presence of Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar, State Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phaldesai and others.
Sawant informed the gathering that Goa grants Persons with Disabilities (PwD) the highest pension. Those with 80 percent disability get Rs 3,500 per month while a person with other disabilities gets Rs 2,500 monthly, higher than any other State in India.
Goa also has more reservations for disabled persons as compared to other states. "We have made the capital Panaji a disabled-friendly city and we are planning to develop public buildings as disabled-friendly too," he added.
Kumar appreciated the initiative stating that through Purple Fest, the Goa government has provided a great platform for empowerment for specially-abled persons. "Proper steps are being taken for social empowerment through skill training, development of educational facilities through the Union Ministry," he asserted.
On the first day of the event, 69 delegates participated in the morning bird walk activity at Karmali lake. Around 32 visually impaired, 15 partially blind and 22 hearing impaired representatives participated in the morning show. Various other shows were held on day one of the event that concludes on January 8.
Over 6000 students are expected to participate in the festival to understand and be sensitive about the issues by watching films based on disability.
