Disability Rights Association of Goa

Goa's first Disabled Persons Organization working for 22 years to mainstream persons with disability.

[NCPEDP @ncpedp_india]

The Hindi notification for Census 2027 uses “nihshaktata” for disability, carrying forward a term from Census 2011 that disability advocates have long challenged as outdated.

Since the last Census, India has enacted the RPwD Act, 2016, the Government of India has formally adopted “Divyangjan” in its disability nomenclature, and the Hon’ble @PMOIndia has called for moving away from older terminology. Yet Census 2027 continues to carry forward language from 2011.

NCPEDP calls for this terminology to be reviewed and corrected, and for consistent language across Census notifications, training materials and public communication.

Read the full report in @EconomicTimes - https://t.co/mXMIIUJ4dH

@CensusIndia2027 @PIBHomeAffairs @HMOIndia @AmitShahOffice @mygovindia @MSJEGOI @pib_MoSJE @socialpwds @Mphasis @nidhi_ET @armanaly @akeel_usmani @drag_org

#Census2027 #Disability #NCPEDP

[DIP.GOA @dip_goa]

Govt. of Goa revises the rates under the "Scheme for grant of compensation on account of loss of human life, permanent Disability or injury caused by wild Animals".

[DIP.GOA @dip_goa]

The 12th World Federation of the Deaf Regional Secretariat of Asia (WFDRSA) Youth Camp was inaugurated by Hon’ble Minister for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Shri @S_Phal_Dessai alongwith Shri Guruprasad Pawaskar, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities; Smt. Varsha Naik, Director, Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities; Shri Taha Haaziq, Secretary, State Commission for Persons with Disabilities; Shri Shrikant Pednekar, Deputy Director, Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Shri Babloo Kumar, President, WFD Regional Secretariat for Asia Youth Section; and Shri Roshan Kumar, Chairman, Organising Committee.

The Youth Camp is being organised by the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of Goa, in association with the All India Federation of the Deaf and the Goa Association of the Deaf.

Participants from around 10 countries, including India, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Bhutan, Nepal, the Philippines, Mongolia and Laos, are participating in the various programmes.

The Youth Camp will continue from 5th to 9th October, with various activities.

@discommgoa @goadisability @MSJEGOI

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

The Goa Human Rights Commission has summoned the Chief Secretary of Goa on the issue of non installation of lift in its Old Education building in Panjim for more than a year. The Commission had taken suo moto action on the matter of non availability of the lift in its building in Panjim which was creating tremendous hardships to persons with disability and the elderly,including women in accessing the office of the Commission and the Directorate of Women and Chid Development in Panjim. The Commission had initially made the Goa State PWD Department as party to the case but has now summoned the Chief Secretary due to the extra ordinary delay. Disability Rights Association of Goa @goadisability @avelinodesa is an intervenor in the case.

DRAG has also expressed shock over the non coverage of cancer treatment and its related medicines under the Deen Dayal Swasth Yojana and has demanded that that cancer treatment and its related medicines be covered under the Deen Dayal Swasth Yojana. DRAG has also demanded that an awareness campaign be made as to what is covered and what is not covered under the Deen Dayal Swasth Yojana so that the general public is aware of the same.

DRAG has also taken strong cognizance of gross human rights violations and misuse of wheelchairs and stretches by the management of the South Goa District Hospital and has demanded immediate remedial action to avoid its misuse failing which it will take necessary legal action.

DRAG also expressed its dissatisfaction on public buildings and places not being made accessible for persons with disability and the elderly even after 10 years of the Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016 making it mandatory when Rs.100cr per year funds are given to every MLA for the infrastructure development of their constituency. This shows the Goverment's misplaced priorites. DRAG has demanded that all public buildings be made accessible by December 2026.
@discommgoa @nagvekarvishant @AshtanaPP @Armanaly @trinayani @msjegoi @rahul400 @risingflame @danishmahajan @oheraldo @bhaangarbhui @i_am_frederika @tahahaaziq @vijaisardesai @valmikinaik @yurialemao

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Visited Tanvi and her Mum Sheela Kaushik at their craft stall at the exhibition at ESG Art Gallery on Saturday evening along with Avelino de Sa and journalist Baban Bhagat.
Her products are funky bracelets and Keychains, made with beads and threads. Her brand name is "Knotty Beads".
The venue is 'The Art Gallery, Maquinez Palace compound, (ESG), next to Inox, Panjim. Time of exhibition is 11 am to 7 pm. The exhibition will continue on Sunday September 27, 2026.
Please visit Tanvi's stall. She is doing it for the first time, so your visit will be greatly encouraging for this girl.
@goadisability
@baban_bhagat_ @bhagatbaban0 @discommgoa @esg_goa @dacunhasabina @goahemophilia

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Visited friend Frederika Menezes @i_am_frederika along with Avelino and celebrated her birthday 🎊🎂 at her residence this evening at Miramar(Panaji Goa) with her family, relatives and friends. God bless Frederika 🙏❤️
@discommgoa @goadisability @yashatwork @alokikgoa @mallaikamat @yourtara @kdrow

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

For whom do these Municipal Corporations wait to do proper accessibility in their premises ? One ramp they can't make proper .Don't they know safety of Persons with Disability is involved? @kunu4goa, is there an accessible toilet inside or again that will be done after Chief Officer enters his office. Is there a lift for the building? Is there designated parking for PswD close to the building?
This is a very serious matter.
Will @discommgoa @grpawaskar @tahahaaziq intervene and see that
such local self governance bodies care for the dignity of citizens with disability, their own officers and employees with disability?
Shocking and shameful, to say the least.
@goadisability @nagvekarvishant @drpramodsawant @visrane

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Rajdeep Sardesai @sardesairajdeep on RPwD Act,2016 - Reflection & Journey Towards 2036 | Ep.4
https://t.co/05sIFd08dY

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Accessibility is not a favour, it is a right for the Disability community. And accessibility is universal..it helps everybody at different times and circumstances - physical as well as virtual accessibility:

Here is a person with visual impairement writing with an intention to report about the accessibility challenges faced in the Bharat Taxi @coopbharattaxi
application.
As the Bharat Taxi application has been launched by the Ministry of Cooperation @minofCooperatn , Government of India under the cooperative model, the app has very transparent charges and all.
But one issue which I feel is still not addressed properly is to know the ETA of the driver and how far the driver is, and also the ETA to destination once the ride has started and how far the destination is - the way we are able to see in Uber @uber_India and Rapido @rapidobykeapp and I think in Ola @ola_supports as well.
So in this regard, I have written to them regarding the same and I expect that some of you should also write the same to them, apprising them of this issue so that it gets attention and this issue can be fixed.
As this is a government-backed application and works on a cooperative model, it is imperative that this application should follow the guidelines of the government in terms of accessibility.
You can write to them on [email protected] and [email protected] . Email ids have been retrieved from Google Play Store. in the about they have developed section

Please support the Disability community empowerment in public spaces like public transport, by repost this concern. 🙏
@narendramodi @pmo_India

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

A question frequently asked by many persons with Hemophilia blood condition: Is health insurance available for people with hemophilia in our country?

Yes, health insurance is certainly available for people with hemophilia. In accordance with IRDAI @irdaindia
directives, insurance companies offer coverage to persons with disabilities, and this includes coverage for those with hemophilia.

Coverage of up to ₹5,00,000 is available; you can choose between schemes that are co-pay-free or those with a 20% co-pay.

Public sector insurance companies—namely National Insurance, New India Assurance, and United India Insurance—offer health insurance for people with hemophilia.

Here are the details regarding these policies:

National Insurance: Divyangjan Sanjeevani Policy

New India Assurance: Atmanirbhar Policy

United India Insurance: Samaveshi Suraksha Policy

https://t.co/qLNdG3XFO4

https://t.co/PEpOpp3wm5

https://t.co/Tmt1bK60bV
@HemoIndia @GoaHemophilia @SureshHanagavad @drsitu @goadisability @discommgoa @pradip_Kamthe

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

My weekly article in Sunday Lokmat
@lokmat today on August 23,2026 in
two parts(second part next Sunday) assesses the ground reality of
Invisible discrimination faced by persons with Disability in terms of employment:
How private sector evades India’s disability rights law.
This is based on an article written in Deccan Herald @DeccanHerald recently by Rahul Bajaj @Rahul400 , a practising lawyer with expertise in disability rights and IP law, and is co-founder of Mission Accessibility.

Nothing in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act treats private employers any differently. It obligates every establishment, whether government or private sector to provide reasonable accommodation, and requires private employers to frame equal opportunity policies covering assistive devices, barrier-free infrastructure, and more.
https://t.co/NjpWJ46nU5
@sugamyata @rajeshaggarwal @discommgoa @goadisability @nagvekarvishant

[HANDICARE @handicareindia]

@socialpwds @ncpedp_india @DisabledWorld @drag_org @DisabilityIndia @DisabilityToday @SCVashishth @disabilityscoop @goadisability Air India reported that 30% passengers on India-US flight request #wheelchairs. Most of them able bodied Travellers.
@airindia @socialpwds @DisabledWorld

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

https://t.co/IA4ISZICM6
@goadisability @msjegoi
@discommgoa

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

*Special Stall for persons with disability Inaugurated at Vasco(Goa) annual Saptah*

Minister for PWD Digambar Kamat @digambarkamat inaugurated a dedicated stall for persons with disability at the Saptah Fair alongside Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar @DajiSalkar
and Siddesh Shripad Naik. Minister Kamat praised MLA Salkar for personally funding the space and facilities to empower and protect the interests of the specially-abled community. He urged that similar inclusive initiatives become the standard for all upcoming fairs and feasts across Goa.
https://t.co/rEvqlVCEGz
Special thanks for MLA Daji Salkar and Councillor Mrs. Shami Daji Salkar for the kind of earnestness and sensitivity they have been showing to provide comfortable stalls at the Saptah and make these young persons with disability comfortable.
God bless them abundantly.
Please visit these stalls and patronised these young entrepreneurs 🙏❤️
@goadisability @discommgoa @gopalvasco @nagvekarvishant @sukhadamarathe

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Please @abhijeet_dipke @SauravDassss @CJP_for_India try and understand that several children with Disability particularly in rural areas, especially the girls don't go to school because schools don't have accessibility ♿ , don't have accessible toilets. Either girls have to wear diapers whole day or just give up the schooling. So when you demand facilities in schools please make the demand for inclusive schools, schools with accessible facilities.
@discommgoa @goadisability @nagvekarvishabt @pratikshakhalap @abhimueugkar

[DIP.GOA @dip_goa]

The Directorate of Transport has issued a circular in compliance with the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, regarding the provision of reserved parking spaces for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).

@discommgoa @goadisability

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Only 14% Goa schools have special children friendly toilets, 208 for 4.7k kids | Goa News - The Times of India https://t.co/0vbE70YCjD
The Goa government @DrPramodPSawant
and the @discommgoa @grpawaskar please take it seriously.
Accessibility of educational institutions is the stepping stone of Disability empowerment.
@MSJEGOI @goadisability @nagvekarvishant @ambastapp

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

Attn. Persons with Disability. Please note which PswD can get Railway Divyang ID card.
@armanaly @discommgoa @goadisability @gopalvasco @AmbashtaPP @nagvekarvishant

[Prakash W. Kamat @PrakashWKamatPK]

A delegation comprising 10 Persons with diverse Disabilities led by president of DRAG @goadisability
met Chief Minister of Goa @DrPramodPSawant at the Mantralaya at Porvorim Goa today over long pending disability issues. He gave them a patient hearing and promised to resolve their grievances at the earliest. DRAG expressed shock on the total inaccessibility of the new Mantralaya building and demanded it be made accessible immediately.
@discommgoa @radheshvarty @goahemophilia @santoshvani @bhaangarbhui @sukhadamarathe
@armanaly @tukaramgaonkar4 @vijaisardesai @yurialemao

[The Goan 🇮🇳 @thegoanonline]

THE GOAN | DRAG seeks action on 10 long-pending disability rights demands

Read More: https://t.co/ItLrXbWlBU

#Goa #BreakingNews #News #Headlines #TopStories
@DrPramodPSawant @discommgoa @goadisability