There are approximately forty thousand of them in Goa itself according to rough estimates and life can be pretty tough for them. For the differently abled, moving around and meeting people can be a trying experience. Not much data is available as to how many of them are married or in a relationship. The Disability Rights Association of Goa is doing its best to help young differently abled people to do just that.
Avelino de Sa, President of DRAG said the initiative to get together differently abled people who were interested in meeting people and getting married started last year in August. He said they had offline meets in Panjim, Margao, Mapusa and Vasco. They had received around sixty registrations from people with and without disability. Then they had to take a break due to the virus and other issues which had to be tackled. This time the first event in a while will be held online. The initial response he said was very encouraging and people from all over the State were responding. He said so far no marriages had taken place following the first such initiative last year but he said conversations were taking place. There he said no limit on one’s age with regards to participating in this online meeting.
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He said there were examples of able bodied people married to differently abled people and doing very well. He said at the online session they intended to showcase one such couple who will talk of their experiences. Avelino said the organisation wanted people to meet and break misconceptions that people who were not differently abled could not marry those who were. He said it was something they were fighting with everyday.
One can only wish and hope this initiative achieves the success it was set up for.
