Law experts praised the Disability Act, 2016, for emphasising the need for inclusivity in society at an event to mark International Day of Persons with Disability in Goa on Saturday.
‘Earlier law inadequate’
“For the first time, an Act has emphasised the need for disabled people to have full access to their civil and political rights,” said Amita Dhanda, senior professor, National Academy of Legal Studies and Research, Hyderabad, while delivering the keynote address. Ms. Dhanda said the Disability Act, 1995, was not adequate and had kept several disabled persons out of its reach.
The theme this year was ‘Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality’. A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between Dr. Saba Da Silva, principal of Kare College, and Ashwin Tombat, chairman of Sangath, to work in the field of inclusivity. Dr. Da Silva said a visually-challenged student recently topped the Bachelor of Legislative Law course.
Taha Hazeeq, a visually challenged officer on special duty with the social welfare department, said there was an urgent need for society to pay attention to the concept of inclusivity. He said a visually challenged student was completing a computer science course at Chowgule College in Margao. He said companies in Goa had to employ disabled youth to give a boost to inclusivity.
A four-day exhibition of paintings by disabled persons was inaugurated at the Art and Culture Hall.
