Panaji: The government has begun working towards making 30 government buildings fully accessible for persons with disabilities (PwDs) under phase one of the Accessible India Campaign.
A tender has been floated by the public works department (PWD) for the work and a review meeting chaired by social welfare secretary, Arun Kumar Mishra was held on Wednesday to gauge the progress.
The state commissioner for persons with disabilities, Guruprasad Pawaskar said the state government has begun work to make buildings accessible to persons with disabilities.
“Signage, audio, tactiles, and other non-civil work on 30 government buildings will be completed by the end of June. In addition, civil works such as ramps and accessible toilets will be completed in phase two for 30 government buildings,” Pawaskar said.
He said the the social welfare department has decided to make the next 45 government buildings and a few beaches such as Calangute, Colva and Baga accessible for PwDs under phase two of the project.
A goal has also been established to ensure that all government buildings are accessible by April 2023,” he said.
In addition, the state commissioner for persons with disabilities urged all school managements in the state to ensure that school buildings and higher education institutions are accessible for students with disabilities.
Siddhivinayak Naik, director, social welfare, Santan Fernandes, assistant director, social welfare, Taha Haaziq, secretary, office of the state commissioner for persons with disabilities, and Prakash Kamat, member of the State Advisory Board on Disability were also present for the meeting on Wednesday.
The 30 government buildings that will be made fully accessible under phase one include the district and sessions court, Panaji police station, PHQ, Urban Health Centre, directorate of social welfare, Panaji Traffic Cell, directorate of panchayats, Regional Employment Exchange, directorate of art & culture, directorate of transport, directorate of industries trade & commerce, KTC bus stand, Goa State SC, OBC finance and development corporation, Office of District Register, directorate of education, directorate of higher education, Panaji Science Centre, Panaji government polytechnic, corporation of the City of Panaji, Goa University, Goa Medical College, directorate of tourism and Goa Tourism Development Corporation.
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