'Politicians Don't Consider Us a Vote Bank'

by CHRISTINA VIEGAS
Posted on 2009-03-13
Please enlighten us on the status of the Disability Act. The Disability Act is still not fully implemented. Why? - Because the government is dragging its feet and the disabled are not forceful enough. What are the currents statistics of the disabled in the state?
The last Census was conducted way back in 2001. I’m told the government is presently conducting one.
With elections round the corner, are you people excited to vote?
Yes definitely, but the politic parties are just not bothered about us. They don’t consider us as a vote bank. The meeting halls of Gram Sabhas are not accessible to us, therefore we are compelled to stay out of the discussions. They fail to realise that the disabled and their families in Goa itself account for one lakh votes; a figure which the politic parties cannot afford to ignore.
You have been working hard towards making buildings, streets and transportation disabled friendly? How far have you succeeded?
Some new buildings are being constructed as user friendly to the disabled, but the government is in contempt of court as they had promised to make all the old buildings too accessible to the disabled by December 2008 in response to the writ petition filed in the Mumbai High Court in December 2004, but nothing has happened till now.
In the same petition, even the Kadamba Transport Corporation had promised to make the buses wheelchair friendly. They too are in contempt of court.
So, nothing has been done so far?
Last week the KTC issued a statement that 50 such buses are coming out very soon; of which 20 will be large buses.
What other areas is DRAG working on?
Presently, we are focusing on getting religious places, theatres, auditoriums and beaches made disabled friendly at the earliest.
This obviously brings us to the problems you all had at the IFFI!
Yes, the Maquinez Palace and Inox threatres are absolutely not wheelchair friendly. We had filed a complaint last year before IFFI ’08, with the Chief Disability Commissioner, Delhi, but since that notice period was short, we allowed the festival to go on. But this year, the authorities have sufficient time. If the necessary work is not carried out, then the IFFI ’09 will not be held in Goa. The Chief Disability Commissioner and DRAG will ensure this.
The ESG had promised that they would conform to the norms by March 31, 2009, but with the election code of conduct in force, we don’t see that happening. However, we will not allow any film festival to continue in Maquinez Palace and Inox after March 31st, 2009 as the ESG has not kept its promise.
Unfortunately, it seems that every scheme for you is only on paper and the authorities don’t respect the disabled?
Schemes are on paper only; they don’t reach the disabled; majority of who are grappling with their circumstances in villages. Yes, take employment - there is a three per cent reservation in the government sector, but as of date, only two per cent has been filled. Yet, the government is definitely not eager to fill up the backlog.
In terms of education, the government is supposed to keep three per cent reservation for disabled students and staff, in all government and government-aided educational institutions. Here again, this has not been notified and implemented. Though inclusive education is mandated under the Disability Act, the Goa Government is not very supportive of the NGOs working for the inclusion of the disabled.
What about recruitment by the private sector?
As for private employment, the Government of Goa has come out with a scheme whereby the private entrepreneur will be paid Rs 250 a month for every disabled employee earning between Rs 2,500 to Rs 5,000 and Rs 500 for every disabled employee earning salary of Rs 5, 000 and above.
Besides, there is also a scheme by the Central Government whereby there is a refund of 100 per cent of the management contribution of the ESIC and PF of the disabled employee. But, till today there are no takers for these schemes.
So, is there no silver lining?
Last year, in May, the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities was out. This gives an added boost to our rights because now the performance of India, with regard to work done for the disabled, will be under the scanner of the international community.
We respect the fact that you still don’t give up despite the bleak circumstances.
Yes, we will continue fighting for our rights.