PANAJI
Speaking of empowerment of the persons with disabilities (PwDs), it’s been seven years since the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD Act) Act, 2016 got notified on December 28, 2016 and passed by both the houses of the Parliament, yet some things remain on the paper and are yet to see the light of the day. Though the RPWD Act 2016 has included more conditions as disabilities, the persons suffering from these conditions are yet to get certificates from the concerned authority in Goa, and as such, these persons with disabilities do not avail the benefits which they deem fit.
Briefing on the issue, Avelino De Sa, president, Disabilities Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) states, “In the RPWD Act, 2016, the list of disabilities has been expanded from 7 to 21 conditions and it now also includes cerebral palsy, dwarfism, muscular dystrophy, acid attack victims, hard of hearing, speech and language disability, specific learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, chronic neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, blood disorders such as haemophilia, thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia and multiple disabilities.”
There are many in Goa suffering from these conditions and though they are entitled to be enlisted as persons with disabilities under the RPWD Act, 2016, they are being deprived of their rights as PwDs as they are not yet listed so. “These individuals, who are not listed as persons with disabilities under the said Act, continue to suffer, in absence of the certificates that declare them PwDs,” points out De Sa who has been vocal about this issue for the past six-seven years.
A Medical Board was constituted last year to certify people suffering from the conditions notified in 2016 in the Act, yet the process of certifying these persons as PwDs has not taken momentum, he laments. The government has not issued certificates to these persons and the reason being given is shortage of professionals who can certify them, he says.
However, the website of the Unique Disability ID mentions centres in Goa for certifying the persons with disabilities for UDID cards in North and South Goa. In North Goa dean of Goa Medical College at Bambolim Dr Shivanand Bandekar is the point person, Dr Anil Rane and Dr Pradeep Naik at Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour, Bambolim, Dr Vandana Dhume at North Goa District Hospital, Mapusa and Chief Medical Officer (North Goa) Dr R K Gupta. In South Goa, Dr Deepa Correia Afonso from Hospicio Hospital is the single point person. Whether these medical officers are still in place or have changed, remains a question.
“Unless the persons suffering from the conditions included in the Act in 2016 are certified as PwDs (persons with disabilities) by the authorised body and authorised medical officer, they cannot avail the benefits provided by the Central and Goa government for PwDs. DRAG has been following the matter for a long time, but we have not been succeeded to reach the logical end. All our efforts are going in vain,” concludes De Sa.
