PANAJI: A youth from Canacona, diagnosed with spastic cerebral palsy, who had not received government support despite repeated requests from his family, has now received immediate assistance thanks to the State’s mobile outreach initiative, the Divyang Rath.
Launched during the International Purple Fest Goa 2025, the Divyang Rath was dispatched within 24 hours of media coverage highlighting the case. On Wednesday, the mobile unit arrived at the youth’s home for a clinical assessment. The evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of CP, and therapeutic interventions have already begun. The customised programme focuses on exercises to improve mobility and flexibility and to reduce muscle spasticity.
State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Guruprasad Pawaskar, emphasized the initiative’s focus on bringing person-centred care directly to those who need it most. "Our goal is immediate assessment, ongoing therapy, and connecting families to the support and entitlements they require,” Pawaskar said.
The Office of the State Commissioner and the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Goa) are coordinating with local healthcare and rehabilitation services for follow-up visits, assistive-device assessments, and links to government schemes.
The Divyang Rath will also visit old age homes run by Provedoria across the state to provide physiotherapy and other interventions. Families in need of home-based therapy can contact the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities at ‪+91 82089 35103‬.
