Did you know that the colour purple has more recently been associated with disability? A strong colour that usually symbolises royalty, power and ambition it aptly portrays a new perspective about the contribution of persons with disabilities in the workforce and society. From January 6-8, 2023, Panjim will witness the three-day first ever Purple Fest, Celebrating Diversity at Entertainment Society of Goa, Panjim. The event will be jointly organised by the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Goa, in collaboration with the Directorate of Social Welfare and Entertainment Society of Goa. 
With over 3,000 registrations from all across the country, Goa is making a huge contribution in creating an accessible and joyous festival for persons with disability who will be visiting the state. Guruprasad Pawaskar, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of Goa is paying attention to every detail required for the festival of this magnitude. “We call it an inclusive festival as we don't want to make it a festival only for disabled, it is also for the non-disabled. People are aware of the rights of the persons with disabilities and it is not about helping them and having sympathy. It is the right way to treat them. Making this festival accessible, the whole system in Goa will start looking at it from a different perspective. It is the first time something like this is happening in the country where all disabilities are coming together. Usually, we have this kind of programme but it is directed to one disability, either visually impaired or hearing impaired. Here, there are 21 notified disabilities that are getting covered. Earlier, there were only 7 disabilities but now more have been added. Some disabilities include accident victims, victims of acid attacks, haemophilia, thalassemia, dwarfism and leprosy cured patients. All these people will get representation at the festival,” says Guruprasad, emphasising that not all disabilities are visible. 

He further adds, “We want to spread awareness and sensitise people. We don’t expect non-disabled people to be aware unless you are connected to the cause. If you have someone in the family who is disabled, you will be connected and you will speak, think and read about it. The festival will help to create awareness about this overall sector. There will be exhibition stalls where the latest aids, appliances and softwares will be available. There will be sessions with 150 speakers who will be persons with disabilities and non-disabled, who have contributed to the cause of disability. We also plan for sessions with targeted audiences like IAS officers, Goa Police, Goa Civil Service, special educators, and they will be talking about their challenges and how they can overcome those challenges. They have to get sensitised as it has to start from the top.” https://www.heraldgoa.in/Cafe/Empowering-people-with-disabilities-through-inclusion/198168

The list of outdoor programmes also are very interesting. From Inter State Blind Cricket Tournament which has received participation from seven Indian states to Blind Car Rally, where the blind will navigate a designated driver by following a braille map to navigate the route. The route will be given on the same day of the rally. It is not about speed but more on the lines of a treasure hunt. 

“We want to welcome persons with disabilities to Goa for the festival. If you are disabled, your family must have come to Goa, but you were left behind because that infrastructure was not available. Now, we are telling people to come to Goa because we will take you to Miramar beach, on the cruise and for bird watching as we are making these places accessible. We have ordered special wheelchairs for the sand and for the water. You can get into the water with a floating wheelchair,” says Guruprasad. 

The festival is organised on a national level and some of the noted personalities who will be contributing to the festival include Shanti Raghavan, a social entrepreneur and the co-founder of EnAble India and Shankar Mahadevan, a renowned singer, who runs a music school for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). His teachers have been training students to perform in the choir, ‘Joyful Choir’. “Other performances will include a wheelchair dance by a group of 10 people from Delhi, a Bhangra group from Punjab, a completely blind stand-up comedian and a deejay. Six movies which are made accessible for persons with visual disability will also be screened. Even a blind person can watch a movie with background music, sound description and narration. We will be having a workshop for all state commissioners at the festival, where they can witness Purple fest and take back their experiences and do it in their own states,” informs Guruprasad, who is optimistic of seeing great results in the next ten years, by making a small start to change the perspective now. 

The last date for registration for Purple Fest is December 20. For registrations one can visit https:// scpwd.goa.gov.in/. All Goans are exempted from registration fees.

Source: https://www.heraldgoa.in/Cafe/Empowering-people-with-disabilities-through-inclusion/198168