PANJIM: The Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities and the Directorate of Social Welfare on Monday announced the much-anticipated International Purple Fest in Goa from January 8 to 13 next year.
The official announcement was made in the presence of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Desai, Secretary (Social Welfare) Subhash Chandra, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Goa Guruprasad Pawaskar and its secretary Taha Haaziq.
The International Purple Fest 2024 will stand as an exemplary testament to the strides made in creating a global community that embraces individuals of all abilities and empowers them to thrive. With the theme of “Diversity Unites Us”, this extraordinary festival aims to transcend borders and create a universal platform for promoting awareness, advocacy, and accessibility for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
Sawant said, “We envision International Purple Fest 2024 as a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change on a global scale. By uniting diverse perspectives, we can create a world that truly celebrates the uniqueness of each individual. Purple Fest will serve as a platform to ignite positive change, enabling PwDs to reach new heights and contribute significantly to the social fabric of our nation.”
Meanwhile, the Directorate of Social Welfare has asked the government as well as private establishments to notify equal opportunity policy for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and register a copy of the policy with the State Disability Commissioner, as mandated by the Rights for Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
The policy will have to be displayed on their website and conspicuous places in their premises. Facilities and amenities to be provided to the PwDs to enable them to effectively discharge their duties in the establishment, list of posts identified suitable for PwDs in the establishment, manner of selection of PwDs for various posts, post-recruitment and pre-promotion training, preference in transfer and posting, special leave, preference in allotment of residential accommodation if any, and other facilities.
