PANJIM: The Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) will submit its 10-point manifesto to all political parties to include them in their respective manifestos for the ensuing Lok Sabha elections.
The 10-point ‘Manifesto For and By Citizens With Disabilities’ for upcoming Lok Sabha elections was released by the National Disability Network of which the Disability Rights Association of Goa is part of it.
According to DRAG president Avelino De Sa, the key demands include appointment of persons with disabilities (PwDs) in Rajya Sabha nominated by the President of India and five per cent reservation at all levels of governance to them and to amend the Article 15 of the Constitution of India, to include disability
They have demanded five per cent budgetary allocation for disability and to give allowance of Rs 5,000 per month for all persons with disabilities. They have urged the political parties to make all existing public and private buildings, products, services, public transportation facilities and communication systems are made completely accessible within next three years following the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.
The have further demanded that all the political parties should introduce a health insurance scheme in line with Ayushman Bharat Scheme for persons with disabilities and to ensure that all backlog vacancies across ministries and departments are filled by 2027.
They have also demanded that political parties should commit and introduce an incentive scheme called, “Access to Work” for small, large and medium scale enterprises that will support reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. They have also urged the political parties to provide accessible and inclusive sports infrastructure for Para Athletes across the country.
The National Disability Network and the National Committee on Rights of Persons with Disabilities (NCRPD) have demanded that all political parties should consider persons with disabilities part of the development agenda.
