PANAJI
Although the government has banned the use of word 'handicapped', the word is still being used for a person with disabilities.
It may be recalled that in a circular in April 2020, the Director of Social Welfare Umeshchandra Joshi has told all heads of government departments, autonomous bodies, muncipalities, panchayats, commissions, corporations, aided and non-aided schools to strictly refrain from using word handicapped and differently abled.
All heads were told to strictly adhere to the instruction. But still in much of the official correspondence the handicapped word is used.
The word handicapped violates and undermines the dignity of the person with disabilities which is so manifestly against the spirit of the Constitution of India. Expression such as differently abled also harps more on the differentialty of dimension at a time when one needs to promote equality.
The use of this word is not good since no person in the world is uniformly abled or uniformly disabled in all respects. Everyone is unique.
The Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) has taken objection to the use of the word handicapped.
