In a significant step towards empowering persons with disabilities, Subhash Phaldessai – Minister for Social Welfare and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, lauded the creativity of students at the Sanjay Centre for Special Education, Porvorim.
He appreciated the efforts of teachers and parents in motivating them to pursue their artistic talent. The Minister was speaking at the valedictory function of a Ganesh Idol-making workshop organised by Mapusa Kalakirti in collaboration with Bal Bhavan, Panaji.
Guruprasad Pawaskar, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, suggested that the students be provided an opportunity to demonstrate their skills through a live street workstation during the upcoming International Purple Fest Goa 2025, scheduled from October 9–12, 2025. He further announced that, under the leadership of Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, the Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, will introduce Vocational Equivalency Certificates for persons with disabilities who are unable to pursue conventional academics.
Welcoming the gathering, Prerna Pawaskar of Mapusa Kalakirti shared that such workshops are held annually for Sanjay School students, adding that this year’s training was more commercially oriented, with idols being prepared for sale.
The students of Sanjay Centre for Special Education showcased their talent by making eco-friendly Ganesh idols from pure shadu clay, which is fully environment-friendly and water soluble. The idols have been crafted in the likeness of Lalbaugcha Raja and ‘Bappa Sitting on Undir,’ reflecting three years of continuous commercial training.
Under the guidance of instructors from Bal Bhavan Kendra, Panaji, students adopted new techniques and followed traditional rituals to enhance the authenticity of the idols.
For the first time, these Ganesh idols are available for sale at Sanjay Centre, Porvorim, at a reasonable price of ₹2,000 each, with the management encouraging the public to support the students by purchasing them.
Other dignitaries present included Paulo Rodrigues, Accounts Officer, Sanjay School; Premanand Khumbar, Bal Bhavan; and Tatu Kudalkar, Headmaster, Sanjay School. Training support was provided by teachers Ranjeeta Narvekar, Shri Deepesh Shetkar, Sanjay Mandrekar, and Ravi Harmalkar, while Shweta Harmalkar compered the function and delivered the vote of thanks.
This initiative highlights Goa’s commitment to empowering Divyang youth with creative and entrepreneurial skills, while also promoting eco-friendly, sustainable practices through the making of traditional clay idols.
