PANAJI: The Panchayat Department has issued directions to all Block Development Officers (BDOs) to ensure the nomination of persons with disabilities (PwDs) in every Village Panchayat by May 30, and to make all public places under the panchayat's jurisdiction accessible to PwDs within six months.
The move comes after sustained representation and an ultimatum from the Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG), which warned of legal action if accessibility norms were not implemented within the stipulated time.
In a memorandum issued yesterday by the Directorate of Panchayats, BDOs have been instructed to direct all Village Panchayat Secretaries to place the issue in fortnightly meetings and take urgent corrective action. The directive cites provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, particularly Sections 3, 40, and 44, stressing the need to uphold the dignity and accessibility of persons with disabilities and the elderly.
The circular reiterates an earlier government decision following a State Advisory Board meeting held in March 2023, which recommended that at least one eligible person with disability be nominated in each Village Panchayat to address disability-related issues at the local level. BDOs have now been instructed to ensure such nominations wherever eligible candidates are available.
A separate memorandum dated September 29, 2025, had already laid down the framework for such nominations, directing Panchayats to implement the advisory decision.
Earlier, DRAG had written to Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho, highlighting the persistent inaccessibility of basic public infrastructure in villages, including panchayat offices, markets, bus stands, libraries, and public toilets. The organisation said these barriers continue despite provisions under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act and significant public spending on rural infrastructure.
The group had warned that failure to ensure accessibility within six months would lead to legal action and potential protests. It had also urged that nominations of persons with disabilities to panchayat bodies be completed at the earliest, noting that such representation is crucial for inclusive local governance.
The association has also appealed to eligible persons with disabilities interested in being nominated to panchayat bodies to come forward and contact the organisation.
