‘Purple Fest 2023, Celebrating Diversity’, India’s first-of-its-kind inclusive festival, commenced today at the Entertainment Society of Goa, Panaji.
The opening ceremony of the unique Purple Fest was held at Inox Courtyard in the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Dr. Virendra Kumar, Minister for Tourism Rohan Khaunte, Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai, Secretary Social Welfare Subhash Chandra, Mayor CCP Rohit Monserrate, MLAs, State Commissioner for Persons with Disability Guruprasad Pawaskar and Director of Social Welfare Sandhya Kamat.
Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant speaking at the inaugural, said: “The Goa Government is the highest pension payer for the persons with disabilities with 80% disability, which is Rs. 3500 per month, and for the rest PwD we are paying 2500 per month. We also have the highest reservation quota for Persons with Disabilities amongst other states. We have made Panaji city, a disability-friendly city and we plan on making the public building disable-friendly too.”
“Through the Government of Goa, this People Fest has brought together people with disabilities from across the country. The Union Ministry has been taking the right steps to empower the community, through skill training, education facilities, etc,” said Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Dr. Virendra Kumar.
Various events were held on the first day of the Purple Fest 2023. The early morning Bird Walk at the Carambolim lake saw 69 delegates; 32 visually impaired, 15 partially blind and 22 with hearing disability participate in spotting various species of birds.
At the Purple Rain Ritvik Raja, a musician with visual impairment and cognitive challenges, from ‘We Are One’ Charitable Trust and Shankar Mahadevan’s ‘Joyful Choir’ graced the ESG courtyard with their musical notes.
‘We Care Film Festival’ commenced with Minister Subhash Phal Dessai and Secretary Taha Haaziq in attendance, with the curator Satish Kapoor. This 3-day film festival will have 6000 Goan students as invitees to attend, interact, and watch films based on Disabilities to become aware and sensitive. Some of the movies screened on Day 1 were, ‘Feet in the Sand’, ‘Impossible’, ‘National Anthem in Sign Language’, ‘Tiny Steps’, and more.
‘Purple Experience Zone’ had various cells for Persons with Disability (PwD) who have come together to empower people, not just those with disabilities. These include FunDook, Faiyda, Hemophilia Society Goa, Sethu, Social Welfare Cell, Health Cell, and more under Jagruti Mela. Various activities are organised to create a better understand of concepts here.
Purple Kaliedoscope, The Art Gallery, divided into three sections featuring tactile art with QR codes for visually impaired, products made by children with disability are on display and sale.
Purple Exhibition has stalls that feature products to help persons with vision disability to become better at academics. There are live measures for artificial limbs, wheelchairs and other appliances that are useful to persons with disability.
Purple Bioscope had a screening of the movie ‘86’. The movie had sign language interpreters who interpreted the entire movie. Deaf- Blind Convention, Access India Convention, Fun at Beach, and Cruise Ride were also part of the Day 1 activities at Purple Fest.
The three-day event, the first of its kind will conclude on Sunday, January 8, 2023.
