TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The Public Works Department has conducted an accessibility audit and asked its Principal Chief Engineer to ensure that their Head Office building is made disabled friendly.
In a letter written by the Office of the Chief Architect to the Principal Chief Engineer earlier this month, it has asked them to “install a lift” to make all the areas disabled friendly.
“Hemangi Lawande, who is an accredited access auditor has access audited the PWD head office building and has highlighted the various features required for making the building barrier free,” Radha Pamnani, chief architect has said in her letter.
The Disability Rights Association of Goa has for long been complaining about not only the PWD head office building but also other building and their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.
The state is all set to celebrate World Disabled Day on December 4.
Earlier another disabled person Vishant Nagvekar had complained that he had to run from pillar to post only to file a complaint against the Entertainment Society of Goa in order that he ensures that the place meant for parking of the disabled is allowed to be used by them at the IFFI venue.
“I found that a taxi was parked in the reserved parking for persons with disabilities. When I visited the police outpost at International Film Festival, Panjim venue, the Police deployed there told me of their inability to accept the complaint since the police outpost was temporary and that I have to visit the Town Police Station, Panjim to lodge the complaint,” he narrated.
“The police at the outpost knew very well that I was a disabled person and it would be hard / difficult for me to visit another place for the sake of complaint and that I would not trouble my health in order to get justice. In a way they were absolutely correct, because I was already having acute pain in my both my knees. However, I requested for a blank paper and wrote a complaint and kept it on their table which I am sure will never be inwarded / registered anywhere,” Nagvekar said.
