PANJIM: Taking strong cognisance of notification issued by the Goa University debarring deaf and mute and persons of unsound mind from being appointed on organisational posts of the University, the Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG) has written to the Chancellor and Governor P S Sreedharan Pillai demanding immediate revocation of the notification and the resignation of Vice Chancellor on moral grounds for discriminating against persons with disabilities (PwDs).
According to DRAG president Avelino de Sa, the clause discriminated against PwDs and was in violation of Section 3 of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016.
“We express our shock on educated members of the Executive Council of the Goa University not being aware of the basic discriminatory provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016,” he said.
He said they have passed such discriminatory resolutions even after six years of the Act.”
D’Sa demanded that persons with disabilities (PwD) be nominated on Executive Council of Goa University to prevent such blunders in future.
It was an inadvertent error, goa University clarifies
PANJIM: The Goa University on Tuesday issued a clarification regarding a notification which allegedly discriminated against persons with disabilities (PwD), stating that it had no intention to hurt anybody having any kind of disabilities and there was an inadvertent error from its side.
A notification issued by the University last month had stated that a person will be disqualified for being chosen as, and for being a member of any of the authorities of the university, if he or she is of “unsound mind or is a deaf, mute”.
The clarification issued by the University stated, “The University has no intention to hurt anybody having any kind of disabilities and this was an inadvertent error from the side of the university.” It said, “The University is immediately proceeding to delete the remaining provision regarding disqualification of persons having unsound mind or those who are deaf, mute being appointed as members of any university authority from the statute.”
“There is no discrimination actually being made and many individuals with various disabilities have already been appointed in various positions as per prevailing rules and regulations. The Goa University has no intentions to hurt anyone and the inconvenience caused due to the inadvertent error is highly regretted,” the clarification added.