The Goa State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) recently issued a notice to Director, Goa Social Welfare Department, returnable on August 10, asking her to be present before it in person or though an advocate.
This was in response to a complaint by a disabled government employee that the State government has failed to provide appropriate barrier-free environment in some of the government buildings.
In his complaint filed with the GSHRC on April 9, differently abled government employee Vishal Nagvekar pointed out that in 2004, the Chief Town Planner, Goa, had written to the Director, Social Welfare, stating that there is a need to streamline the various acts, rules and regulations of building byelaws, especially pertaining to government buildings.
Mr. Nagvekar’s complaint to GSHRC gave an example of a government building ‘Shrama Shakti Bhavan’ in the city, with more than seven government offices, does not have basic accessibilities to persons with disabilities. He works in a government office in that building. Significantly, in 2005, Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court gave three weeks to the State government to work out a definite timeframe to implement the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995.
In its order in a public interest litigation petition, the Bench had asked the Social Welfare Department to conduct access audit of public buildings in the cities.
It had also urged the Department of Social Welfare to find a place to relocate its office as it was located in an “inconvenient place for the disabled persons”.
