Akshay Kurade

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

My weekly column on issues of Disability in Sunday Lokmat today on April 5,2026 celebrates an empowerment initiative for persons with disability,
the Raia Empowerment Foundation(REF), at Raia Goa and the foundation’s first venture Avo
Betty’s Café which had the blessing ceremony recently.
Led by the couple,Mr. Peter & Judith Noronha, the
REF is a registered not-for-profit company under the section 8 of Companies act, that endeavors to provide employment to persons with disabilities, particularly visual disabilities at their palatial ancestral house.
The Inspiration behind the foundation is the son-in-law of the house Peter Noronha, his experience and
journey in rediscovering life skills after losing his vision.
REF aspires in due course to grow more business lines under the brand name ‘Casa de Raia’ and they hope to involve many more persons with disability in their journey ahead.
https://t.co/C1QDNH8Osx
@goadisability @abhimurugkar @VijaiSardesai @DrPramodPSawant @visrane @nagvekarvishant @Shahinlambe86 @GoaHemophilia @RisingFlameNow @Sugamyata @Amarpawar29 @oheraldogoa

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Will @discommgoa @grpawaskar @tahahaaziq conduct a Accessibility audit of all Goa police Stations at the earliest?. Because apart from both District Police Head Quarters being inaccessible, there are other police stations which do not have proper ramps, accessible toilets, reserved parking for persons with disability and if some have, some of those are not appropriate or have no proper signage there.
I also appeal to all Goa MPs, Ministers, MLAs to take this issue of Accessibility of police stations in your constituencies as it is an exclusion of persons with disability.
How long this kind of insensitivity continue in Goa which prices itself with three very successful Purple Fess @purplefestgoa which teach inclusion, accessibility and empowerment of persons with Disability?? @Goa_Police
@DGP_Goa @Varsha270819 @spsouthgoa @spnorthgoa
@SPTrafficGoa @Coll_SouthGoa @Coll_NorthGoa @kbdessai @GoaHumaneTrust @thegoanonline @lisamonteiroTOI @sadgurulokmat @EgnaCleetus @RahulGuptaIPS
@ShetSadanand @ViriatoFern @shripadynaik
@goacm @DrPramodPSawant
@RohanKhaunte @visrane @UlhasTuenkar @ValmikiNaik @babushofficial @SmtJMOfficial @DajiSalkar @ReginaldoGoa @digambarkamat @VijaiSardesai @Yurialemao9

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Had great inclusive Rakshabandhan with school children at Chubby Cheeks School and higher secondary at Porvorim-Pilerna today with Goa State Disability Commissioner @discommgoa Guru Pawaskar @grpawaskar , @tahahaaziq ,@avelinodesa of @goadisability
and others with the participation of children with disability and non-disabled children together. ❤️🙏
Impressed with the inclusion practiced in the school under the leadership of Head Mastress Celina D'Souza and the teachers👌🏼👍🏻🌹🫡
❤️🙏

[Disability Rights Association of Goa @goadisability]

Visited kala academy yesterday evening for a drama with State Disability Advisory Board Member Prakash Kamat only to find the toilet for persons with disability locked. We have fought for years for this facility and lakhs are spenton it.. what is the use if persons with disability cannot use the facility ???@DrPramodPSawant @PrakashWKamatPK @RajVaidyaGoa @goacm @Goa403709India @discommgoa @purplefestgoa @S_Phal_Dessai @ritzvaigankar @nagvekarvishant @i_am_frederika @grpawaskar @Yurialemao9 @VenzyViegas

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

At Margao Municipal Council there is no accessibility for citizens with disability who come for their work. I have been getting complaints and the issue is causing outrage on various disability groups.
As a Member of State Advisory Board almost a fortnight back I requested concerned authorities to set up a Disability Desk on the ground floor where persons with disability who would struggle to climb stairs can get their work done. Still nothing is moving except time.
Does this involve rocket science??
May I bring this to the notice of Ministers @visrane ?
Margao MLA @digambarkamat
Fatorda MLA @VijaiSardesai
The Leadervof Opposition @Yurialemao9
@FrazellaA
@ValmikiNaik
@ielvisgomes

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Mr. Gopal Naik @gopalvasco, a person with disability,Goa has complained to Goa State Disability Commissioner @discommgoa and @Coll_NorthGoa
to express his concern regarding improper closure of his complaint lodged with Union Bank @UnionBankTweets, bearing Ticket ID: 26008854, titled "Request for Status Update on NDFDC Loan for Persons with Disabilities and Action Against Rude Behavior by Branch Manager."

"Following my complaint, a Union Bank official contacted me and inquired about the issue, despite the fact that all relevant details had already been clearly stated in my email. Nonetheless, I explained the matter again verbally. I also clearly requested that the bank provide the following in writing via email, specifically addressed in response to the original complaint email:

The Standard Procedure or official guideline for availing the NDFDC subsidized loan for Persons with Disabilities by union bank. An appropriate response to the concerns raised regarding the inappropriate behavior of the branch manager.

To my surprise, the complaint was falsely marked as resolved with the following message:

"GRO Goa has provided the following resolution to the ticket, #26008854: We have contacted the customer and explained him about the scheme. Customer is satisfied, so kindly close the ticket. Dated: 30/06/2025, 07:01 PM"

This is completely incorrect and misleading. and I had explicitly requested a written response via the same channel through which the complaint was lodged. No such written response has been received to date.

I also respectfully urge the Collectorate of North Goa and the Hon’ble Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Goa to take up this matter seriously and ensure accountability for the mishandling of complaints related to the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities", says
Gopal Naik
8668532045.
@nagvekarvishant
@AmitGhayal3
@goadisability
@tahahaaziq @pranaik @MSJEGOI @PratikshaKhalap

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

🇮🇳🌺🇮🇳🌺🇮🇳Disability News,Goa🇮🇳🌺🇮🇳🌺
I along with @goenchofestakar
were delighted to see our visually impaired friends Tyron & Viona in their Vailankanni stall number 011 & 012 at the ongoing LokUtsav at Kala Academy, Panaji. Please support them 🙏 and also share this post.

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Multi-talented @i_am_frederika donated generous sums to various NGOs working in disability sector,at the Goa government function of International Day of Disability 2day in Porvorim Goa. Here I,with my team of Rama Kavthankar @DacunhaSabina accepting on behalf of @GoaHemophilia 🙏

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Congrats dear Akshay M. Bhangle,Goa,a post graduate who has joined @DrishtiMarine,Goa as an Administrative Consultant. We laud Drishti Life Saving Services 4 employing a VI qualified person & glad to know that they have provided exemplary reasonable accommodations at workplace🙏

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

*पुण्यामध्ये नवी सांगवी येथे दिव्यांगांचा दिव्य कला मेला हा मोठा कार्यक्रम झाला. परंतु पुणे जिल्ह्यातील एक लाख दिव्यागांना याची माहितीच नव्हती.‌ या कार्यक्रमाला देशाचे दिव्यांग मुख्य सचिव राजेश अग्रवाल सामाजिक न्याय अधिकारीता मंत्रालय भारत सरकार यांच्यापुढे धर्मेंद्र सातव यांनी

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Wonderful experience and great joy to be at the 1st Patriotic song competition organised by @discommgoa with others for students and children with disabilities at Sanjay School for spl children in Porvorim on Independence Day. Appreciate the initiative of Mr. G. R. Pawaskar!👌🙏

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Dear Faculties, students, Research scholars, and friends,
We are conducting research on the challenges faced by visually impaired students pursuing higher education (Bachelors, Masters or a Doctoral degree). 
We request you to spare a few minutes and fill this form as your

[Goa State Commission for Persons with Disabilities @discommgoa]

The Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities extends heartiest Birthday wishes to Prakash Kamat.His unwavering dedication to advocating for the rights of the disabled community is truly inspiring.

#BirthdayWishes #Advocate #Inspiration

[Goa.Hemophilia @GoaHemophilia]

"Panaji Chapter members unite at Goa Medical College's hemophilia treatment center, marking 40 years of the Hemophilia Federation with the powerful motto: One Country, One Treatment. Solidarity in action for better healthcare accessibility! #HemophiliaAwareness #OneTreatment"

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

@GoaHemophilia @akshatdoctor @bibidempo @BloodStrmMedia @HemoIndia @PuneHemophilia @VijaySChordiya @SaritaChef Thanx Goa HM @visrane &Dean Dr Shivanand Bandekar for always giving serious attention to health needs of Hemophilia patients.
We are glad that our long pending request 4 a day care Centre under one roof is under @goagmc consideration. That will resolve small issues faced by PwH

[Purple TV Bharat @PurpleTVBharat]

Watch Panel Discussion with Editor Sandeep Kerkar on the occassion of The Global Accessibility Awareness Day on Purpletv Bharat on 21st May 2024 at 9:00p.m @Sandeepkgoa @tahahaaziq @PrakashWKamatPK @avelinodesa
#purpletvbharat #goa #pwdlife #AbilityNotDisability

[Goa State Commission for Persons with Disabilities @discommgoa]

The Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities congratulates Satish Gawthankar, a visually impaired student from the National Association for Blind(NAB) from Santa Cruz High School, for his remarkable performance at the SSC Exams securing 80%.

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Congratulations Saish,Congratulations @,nab1983goa 👍

[Goa State Commission for Persons with Disabilities @discommgoa]

Today, we honor the extraordinary mothers who dedicate themselves to caring for their disabled children with boundless love and compassion. Thank you for your incredible strength and devotion.

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Thanks Ramandeep Kaur @Navhind_Times for this wonderful
article on Saish Gauthankar from @nab1983goa @mahadevsawant01
Such good coverage for success stories of disability in media help amplify their voices,towards educating society for inclusion & extending a hand of empathy🙏