NT Reporter | Panaji
After years of neglect and abandonment by her own children, Kamala Naik, a woman with a disability from Santa Cruz, has finally received government assistance and basic facilities following the intervention of the Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG).
Kamala, who had been living alone in a dilapidated house without an Aadhaar card, disability certificate, or benefits under the Dayanand Social Security Scheme, came to light when a DRAG volunteer noticed her plight.
DRAG filed a formal complaint against the Santa Cruz Panchayat and the local Swayampurna Mitra, alleging neglect and discrimination under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Following DRAG’s intervention and an official letter to the authorities, officials from the panchayat, the Department of Social Welfare, Aadhaar Card Centre, Civil Supplies Department, North Goa District Legal Services Authority, and Canara Bank, along with Swayampurna Mitra Pankaj Rane, visited Kamala’s home and completed the required formalities to ensure she immediately received government benefits.
DRAG president Avelino D’Sa and member Seby Mascarenhas were present during the visit.
D’Sa said the association had been working for over two decades to ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities, and called Kamala’s case a clear violation of Sections 3 and 7 of the Act, which guarantee equality, dignity, and protection from discrimination.
