With an aim of providing a hassle-free experience for Persons with Disability (PwD) at the newly-commissioned Manohar International Airport, Mopa, the Goa State Commission for Persons with Disabilities in association with GMR and Directorate of Civil Aviation, are conducting a series of training sessions for about 1500 employees.
Inaugurated on Tuesday (May 23) at the Skill Development Building at Mopa Airport, the training sessions will focus on approach and attitude towards PwDs. This mandatory training will be attended by staffers of all the departments and airlines operating at the airport. The training sessions will be conducted in batches of 50 and will be held every Wednesday and Thursday of the week, stated a press release.
Present for the inauguration were Guruprasad Pawaskar, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Taha Haaziq, Secretary, Goa State Commission for PwDs, Nitish Victor, Head, Human Resources GMR and the trainers Vishant Nagvekar, Mahadev Sawant, Jamila Haaziq and Prasad Joshi.
Guruprasad Pawaskar, State Commissioner for PwD said “The training is been conducted to inculcate the right approach towards passengers with disabilities. To make travelling seamless, a lot depends on the services provided prior to take off and landing, and this is where those working here should be sensitised thoroughly so that they are able to give PwD dignity and a sense of empowerment during their travel.” He urged the staff to be more empathetic towards PwD travelling and provide as much assistance needed.
Nitish Victor, Head Human Resources, GMR Goa International Airport Ltd stated “Whereas persons with disabilities are increasingly travelling by Air, there is a need to facilitate their acceptance. We at Manohar International Airport are committed to protect the rights and dignity of people with disabilities.”
Four trainers have been appointed by Goa State Commission for Persons with Disabilities. Vishant Nagvekar (person with Orthopaedic disability), Mahadev Sawant (person with low vision), Jamila Haaziq (person with blindness) and Prasad Joshi (person with hearing impairment) who will conduct the sessions. Besides, Josephina D’Souza a sign language interpreter would be part of the training to acquaint the trainees with an understanding of sign language that will help them understand and converse with PwD.
Vishant Nagvekar, a Trainer, said, “It was extremely interesting to facilitate this training for airport staff here at Mopa. The eagerness to understand how to approach passengers with disability was motivating for us. We have been able to touch lives of the first batch of trainees today, and over the next few days 1500 will know what it is to live with a disability and why people need to know facts to be sensitive yet not sympathetic in their approach. Respect and dignity is at the core of what we are imparting besides understanding behaviours, communicating with PwDs.”
Airport accessibility is a step forward to creating an accessible and inclusive life for persons with disabilities. Air travelling in itself can be stressful because of the numerous procedures to be followed. Thus to reduce this burden and to facilitate easy air travel for PwD, while providing assistance and necessary information these trainings will go a long way in caring for PwD, and in making Goa accessible.
