PANAJI
The Goa Legislative Assembly on Monday debated the government's alleged failure to fulfil assurances on barrier-free accessibility to buildings for Persons with Disabilities and senior citizens. The Opposition accused the government of failing to ensure even new buildings were accessible to these groups.
A Calling Attention motion tabled by Goa Forward legislator Vijai Sardesai and Congress MLA Carlos Ferreira called for an audit to prepare a plan for making all public infrastructure and government offices barrier-free.
“The new and renovated structures such as Manohar International Airport and the Kala Academy are not accessible to PwDs and senior citizens. There is no point in organizing events if such structures are not going to be accessible,” Sardesai said.
He further stated that despite an assurance from Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Desai in December 2022 to make 200 buildings accessible within four months, only 45 buildings were identified till February 5, 2024.
Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao supported Sardesai adding that Rs 13.71 crores spent to make 22 buildings accessible under Phase I of the Accessible India Campaign and identifying 45 buildings under Phase II still witnesses PwDs struggling to access these including the Assembly Complex.
“Work related to Purple Fest 2023 included construction and installation of various items to make Miramar Beach accessible to PwDs spending Rs 49 lakhs. The truth is that no beaches in Goa including Miramar are accessible to PwDs,” Alemao alleged.
Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye, joined the discussion maintaining that ramps and lifts are not the only solutions. “The department should have a designated engineer to identify solutions and monitor the work. Facilities for disabled people are their right,” he said.
In his reply, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant stated that 22 buildings have been completed to create a barrier-free environment and that in addition to the central fund initiatives, the State government has allocated a budget of Rs 9 Crore for state-sponsored Accessible India Campaign to make 45 government buildings accessible to PwDs.
“The implementation of these accessibility enhancements will be managed by the Public Works Department, which is appointed as a nodal officer for carrying out the audit of all government buildings to formulate guidelines for effective implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act,” he replied.
