PANJIM: For a state that prides itself in being progressive and takes care of its citizens there seem to be lot of slips between the cup and the lip. The Sports Authority of Goa which has borne the heat for the World Cup junket has been accused of not conferring designated amount of Rs 25 lakh to athletes who have won medals at the Special Olympics more than two years ago.
According to the scheme, the SAG is supposed to pay these athletes for winning medals at the Special Olympics at the international level be paid at the earliest. “An amount of around Rs 25 lakh is due to the special students,” says Disability Rights Association of Goa president Avelino de Sa.
SAG director Sandeep Jacques was not available for comment.
DRAG also took strong objection to Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar telling members of the assembly that the post of driver was not identified nor notified for persons with disability while replying to a question from MLA Pramod Sawant on the matter.
According to DRAG, the post of driver is identified and notified for persons with orthopaedic disability and the state government does not have the authority to de-reserve the same as the Persons with Disability Act 1995 is a central government act and the posts for persons with disability have been notified after an in-depth study by an expert committee of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, New Delhi.
DRAG questioned as to how the post of driver could have been reserved if it was not an identified post. DRAG has accused the chief minister of illegally de-reserving a post of driver reserved for persons with disability in the Goa Board for Secondary and Higher Secondary Education in his capacity as minister of Education.
DRAG has also accused the government of apathy towards the grievances of persons with disability. Although directions through circulars have been issued on various issues, cases of injustice towards persons with disability are pending for more than six months DRAG stated.
DRAG has demanded that the government ban the opening of new special schools in Goa as the State already has more than 20 special schools which is sufficient for a small state such as Goa and that Goa will never be able to achieve 100% inclusive education for children with disabilities if special schools continue to flourish in the state. It also called for opening a separate cell in the Directorate of Education to look after the welfare of children with disabilities so that inclusive education can become a reality before the next academic year.
According to the NGO, many students in the special schools who can be easily included in the regular schools but sadly the Directorate of Education is not committed to inclusive education as many schools are not disabled-friendly. Also a teacher who became disabled while in service has not been paid her salary by the Directorate of Education for the last seven months.
