PANJIM: Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) on Wednesday objected to disability NGOs being taken for granted by the government and has demanded postponement of the meeting scheduled on Thursday to draft rules to the Rights of Persons with Disability Act 2016.
In a letter to the Social Welfare Secretary, DRAG stated, “We take strong objection to the government taking the NGOs in the disability sector for granted by giving a short notice of two days to attend an important meeting of drafting the rules for the New Disability Act 2016. As the notice of the meeting is very short and it is not possible for us to leave all our work to attend the meeting, which is very important for the disability sector we demand that the meeting be postponed and sufficient notice of at least 10 days be given for the meeting.”
The letter added, “We also demand that suggestions for the draft rules be invited from the public.”
by publishing the draft rules in the official gazette. We wish to bring to your notice that there are around 50,000 persons with disability (estimated figures under the new act) in Goa and also professionals in the field of disability in Goa besides NGOs and it not proper on the part of the government not to involve them in the drafting process.”
DRAG has also objected to GPSC reserving posts of Asst Director Tourism and Commercial Tax Officers for the hearing impaired, and demanded that the posts be kept open for persons with orthopeadic and visual disability and be re-advertised.
