PANJIM: Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) in a complaint to the South Goa Superintendent of Police and South Goa Collector has demanded immediate action against a trustee of Mangueshi Temple for denying entry to a wheelchair user to the Mangueshi Temple with her wheelchair.
“We are in receipt of a complaint from Subhada Keskar from Mumbai that a temple committee member of Mangueshi Temple Mardol, Kenkre, did not allow her daughter Sanika Keskar who was on her wheelchair due to her physical disability to enter the Mangueshi Temple Mardol to worship as wheelchairs were not allowed in the temple as it was a vehicle. Kenkre also told the Keskars that they were not invited to the temple,” DRAG president Avelino D’Sa said on Monday.
“This is outright discrimination and abuse of physically challenged person which is a criminal offence under Section 92(a) of the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016. We also wish to bring to notice that denial of right to worship is a serious offence as right to worship is a fundamental right under the Constitution of India. Hence we request you to register a criminal offence against the Mangueshi Temple Committee member Kenkre under the relevant sections of the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016 and the Indian Penal Code immediately,” D’Sa said.
DRAG has also written to the North and South Goa Collectors and the State Disability Commissioner to direct all heads of religious places of worship in their jurisdiction to ensure that persons with disability and the elderly are not denied entry into places of worship due to their aids and appliances and that places of worship are made accessible as mandated under the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016 within six months of this letter.
