PANAJI
The State government announced plans to make the capital city 100% accessible to persons with disability and will also organise a mega event 'Purple Festival' dedicated to them in January next.
Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phaldesai who addressed the media on Wednesday said, "The person with disability should feel that he is part of the society."
They should not feel discriminated, they should be socially and economically empowered, Phaldesai said, adding that the Social Welfare department has its front foot forward to ensure benefits of all State and Central schemes meant for PwDs reach them.
The minister also said, that a three-day "Purple festival" a first of its kind will be held in January dedicated to PwDs.
"The State Commission for PwDs, the social welfare department and Entertainment Society of Goa will jointly organised this event in Panaji from January 6," Phaldesai said, adding that he expects around 5,000 PwDs to participate in the multi-disciplinary activities.
On the issue of making Panaji 100 per cent accessible, Phaldesai said, the Social Welfare Department had launched this campaign long ago and thus far around 40 major buildings which are often frequented by PwDs have been already made accessible.
"We have now identified another 40 buildings for which we will be taking up the work very shortly," Phaldesai said, adding that several public spaces from Panaji to Dona Paula have been identified to make them accessible.
