Reaffirming the collective commitment towards building a more inclusive society, a One-Day State-Level Seminar on “Towards Inclusion: Rights, Dignity & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities” was organised by Saraswat Education Society’s Sridora Caculo College of Commerce & Management Studies in association with the Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Goa, and the Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of Goa.
The seminar aimed to promote greater awareness of disability rights, foster inclusive practices, and encourage meaningful dialogue among students, academicians, policymakers, professionals and civil society on advancing accessibility, equal opportunities and the empowerment of persons with disabilities. Held under the theme “Towards Inclusion: Rights, Dignity and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities,” the conference served as a platform for meaningful dialogue on promoting the rights, dignity and empowerment of persons with disabilities while encouraging greater collaboration among institutions, policymakers and civil society.
The inaugural session commenced with the lighting of the traditional lamp and was graced by Micheal Lobo, Chairman GSIDC and MLA Calangute, in the presence of GuruprasadPawaskar, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Government of Goa; Taha Haaziq, Secretary, O/o State Commissioner for PwDs, Prof. Santosh Patkar,Principal of the host institution; Vice Principal Smruti Borkar and Alina Alma, Founder Mitti Café.
The conference witnessed the participation of academicians, government officials, disability rights advocates, professionals, representatives of educational institutions, NGOs and students, reflecting a shared commitment towards advancing the rights, dignity and empowerment of persons with disabilities.
Welcoming the gathering, Prof. Santosh Patkar, Principal, highlighted the importance of educational institutions in fostering inclusive practices and creating an environment where every individual is respected and empowered irrespective of ability.The Chief Guest was introduced by Vice Principal Smruti Borkar, following which the dignitaries were accorded a floral welcome.
Addressing the inaugural session, Guruprasad Pawaskar, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Goa, emphasised that true inclusion extends beyond accessibility and welfare measures. He stated that ensuring equal rights, dignity and opportunities for persons with disabilities requires sustained collaboration between government departments, educational institutions, employers and society at large. He further highlighted the need to mainstream disability inclusion across all sectors so that every person is able to participate fully and independently in community life.
Lobo, in his address, reiterated the Government’s commitment to promoting an inclusive and accessible Goa. He stressed the importance of creating barrier-free environments, encouraging inclusive education and employment, and ensuring that persons with disabilities are empowered to lead lives of dignity, independence and equal opportunity.
Following the inaugural programme, the conference featured a series of insightful technical sessions focusing on various dimensions of disability inclusion. Session I, titled “Understanding Disability: Breaking Myths and Stereotypes” along with “Inclusion Begins with Us: Role of Youth in Building Inclusive Campuses and Communities,” was delivered by Taha Haaziq, Secretary, Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, who highlighted the importance of challenging misconceptions surrounding disability and fostering inclusive attitudes among young people and educational institutions.
Session II, “Stories that Inspire: A Panel Discussion featuring Persons with Disabilities,” was moderated by Guruprasad Pawaskar, and featured accomplished panellists Loyd Fernandes, Siddharth Naik and Gaurish Murgaonkar.
The discussion provided participants with first-hand accounts of resilience, achievements and lived experiences, underscoring the importance of creating an enabling environment that empowers persons with disabilities to realise their full potential.
Session III focused on “Digital Accessibility” and was delivered by Dr. Swaroop Joshi, Professor, BITS Pilani, who emphasised the growing need for accessible digital platforms, inclusive technologies and universal design principles to ensure equal access to information and services in an increasingly digital world.
Participants also took part in Session IV, an interactive experiential activity on connecting with persons with disabilities, facilitated by Mahadev Sawant, Prasad Joshi, Vishant Nagvekar and Jamila Haaziq. The activity enabled participants to gain practical insights into empathy, accessibility and inclusive communication through immersive engagement.
The conference concluded with Session VII, “Empathy in Action,” conducted by Prakash Kamat, Senior Journalist, who encouraged participants to translate awareness into meaningful action and contribute towards building an inclusive society where every individual is respected, valued and empowered.
As part of the inaugural programme, the dignitaries were presented with mementoes in appreciation of their contribution towards promoting disability inclusion.
The formal inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Ruta Kenkare, who expressed gratitude to the Chief Guest, dignitaries, organisers, speakers, participants and volunteers for making the conference a success.
The conference is expected to feature deliberations on disability rights, inclusive education, accessibility, policy implementation, empowerment initiatives and best practices aimed at strengthening an inclusive ecosystem in Goa. Through discussions and knowledge-sharing, the conference seeks to reinforce the vision of an equitable society where persons with disabilities enjoy equal rights, opportunities and participation in every sphere of life.
“Towards Inclusion: Rights, Dignity and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities” stands as a significant step towards promoting awareness, encouraging dialogue and strengthening partnerships to realise the shared vision of an accessible, inclusive and empowered future for all.
