Panaji: Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) on Thursday met chief minister Pramod Sawant and sought an increase in the disability pension from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 a month to Rs 6,000 to Rs 8,000 a month, considering the increased cost of living. DRAG president Avelino D’Sa also asked the CM to reopen the adult vocational training centre in Porvorim for the disabled, which has remained shut due to the unfortunate death of a student three years ago.The CM said he would resolve the grievances, including revising the pension for persons with disabilities (PwDs).D’Sa told Sawant that the state commissioner for PwDs has recommended an increase in the pension which was last revised in 2013. “Two years have passed and the order by the commissioner is not implemented. We would like to bring to your notice that Goa has only 12,000 PwDs receiving the pension and many big states having a population of over 1 lakh PwDs are giving a pension of Rs 6,000 per month,” D’Sa said.The CM was also asked to introduce a policy for empowerment of PwDs. “We would like to bring to your notice that the corporations and many govt departments are not following the mandatory 4% reservation for PwDs. As per RTI information collected by us recently, there should be at least 1,000 backlog vacancies for PwDs in govt corporations and departments despite Supreme Court orders to fill up the backlog long ago,” said D’Sa.He said that a 1% reservation quota in govt jobs for persons with intellectual disability and autism is also mandated under the Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016, which is not being followed by govt.D’Sa said that all stadiums in the state need to be made accessible, as several PwDs are bringing laurels to Goa even on the international stage. He also requested that Goa govt start skill development centres and respite care centres for persons with intellectual disability and autism.He said that even after 10 years of the Rights of Persons with Disability Act, 2016, many panchayat buildings, including new ones are not accessible for PwDs.
