The Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities is proud to announce the remarkable progress of Raksha Dangui, a resident of Guirim, who has shown incredible resilience after a life-altering accident in 2018. After being paralysed from the waist down due to a spinal cord injury, Raksha has undergone extensive treatment and rehabilitation across India. However, it was not until the opening of Goa’s first Spinal Cord Rehabilitation Centre, Rugnashray, in Bambolim, that Raksha found the consistent, high-quality care she needed closer to home.
Launched during the International Purple Fest in January 2024, Rugnashray provides specialised physiotherapy for spinal cord injury patients. For Raksha, who previously had to travel to places like Rajasthan, Mumbai, and Chennai for treatment, this has made it possible to receive the care she needs right here in Goa. This has greatly alleviated the financial and emotional strain on her family. Raksha expressed: “The physiotherapists from the Indian Spinal Injury Centre, Delhi, along with the local team at Rugnashray, have played a crucial role in my recovery. Their commitment to helping patients like me regain mobility is truly commendable.”
Raksha was among the first patients to benefit from this new facility. “Spinal cord injuries require consistent, high-quality physiotherapy, which I am fortunate to receive at Rugnashray,” she shared. “The physiotherapists here are not only highly skilled but also deeply compassionate. Their dedication has been a key factor in my recovery.” Raksha stayed at the centre for nearly three months and is grateful to the Office of the State Commission for Persons with Disabilities, which led the efforts to establish this facility in Goa. “This Centre has made a profound difference in my life and will undoubtedly do the same for many others,” she added.
State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities, Guruprasad Pawaskar remarked: “It has been heartening to witness Raksha Dangui’s progress over the past few months. The doctors and staff at Rugnashray are deeply dedicated to the well-being of the patients who come here with hope. I encourage many Goans who have faced spinal cord injuries to take advantage of the facilities available here.”
Raksha, now who does not have to travel around the country for treatment was also able to get work. She works remotely as an HR Executive at Aditya Birla Capital. However, she understands her condition and will need physiotherapy her whole life. “I’ve reached this far with the love and support of loved ones and treatment I’ve received through these years”, she says adding that localised care for Persons with Disabilities is important, which the State Commission’s Office for Persons with Disabilities is committed to providing in Goa.
