Panaji : The Margao Municipal Council has set up a help desk on the ground floor of its building to assist persons with disability.
The council said the step was taken so that disabled persons do not face difficulties in accessing services located on upper floors.
However, Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) raised the issue of broader accessibility across Goa.
“Despite two years of hosting the Purple Fest and clear directions from the chief commissioner for persons with disability, most local bodies have failed to take even basic steps such as setting up of a ground-floor help desk,”said president of the DRAG Avelino De Sa, thanking Margao MLA Digambar Kamat and State Disability Advisory Board member Prakash Kamat for their support in making this possible.
The DRAG has demanded that all municipalities and panchayats, whose offices are on upper floors, and are not accessible to persons with disability must establish a help desk on the ground floor by July 31.
Additionally, he demanded that these buildings be made fully accessible by December 3, in line with national accessibility standards. “Failing to meet these deadlines will lead to legal action against the concerned bodies,” said De Sa.
“Accessibility is not a luxury, but a basic right for persons with disability,” he said and called on the government to ensure that every citizen is able to access public services without physical barriers.
