GIPARD organized a 3 days training program for officers from various departments across the State from 13th to 15th September, 2022 from 10.00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. at Ella Farms, Old Goa. Core Faculty in Public Administration, GIPARD Ms. Hegel Da Costa was the Course Director. The training program was attended by Ms. Samiksha Vengurlekar NSS PO and Lt. Sandesh Gaonkar, ANO, NCC Army.
The Expected Outcome of the program was as follows:
At the end of this training programme, participants will be able to: –
- Understand the Legal Provisions related to Senior Citizens & PWDS.
- Comprehend the role & responsibility of Departments, Institutions, NGOs & Local Bodies towards the Welfare of Senior Citizens & PWDs.
- Get an overview of the different aspects concerning Senior Citizens & PWDs such as health, wealth, safety etc.
Each day of the training had five sessions spread across the day with different group activities being conducted.
Day 1 – On 13th September the training began with the introduction by Ms. Hegel Da Costa, Course Director. The first session was conducted by Dr. Shruti Nadkarni, Faculty, Kare College, on Legal Provisions for the Protection & Welfare of Senior Citizens: Key Definitions & Concepts followed by a session on Disabilities Act, 2016: An Overview by Dr. B.S. Patil, Faculty, V. M. Salgaoncar College of Law. This session had an interesting group activity. The day ended with a session on Role & Functioning of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities by Mr. Guruprasad Pawaskar, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities
Day 2 – On 14th September, significant topics were covered. The day commenced with a session on Role of Provedoria towards the Welfare of Senior Citizensby Ms. Sonia Phadte, Programme Officer, Institute of Public Assistance (Provedoria). Session two was conducted by Mr. Taha Haazig, Secretary to the Commission for PWDs & Former Dy. Director(Admn), Dept. of Social Welfare who is visually impaired but working towards the welfare of the disabled. He provided necessary information on Schemes& Benefits concerning Senior Citizens & PWDS. This was followed by yet another compassionate talk by Mrs. Sarita Sawant DSP, North Goa. She narrated different stories which are evidences of atrocities faced by senior citizens in the state and how law enforces itself in such cases. Lastly there was a Panel discussion on Initiatives towards the Well-Being Senior citizens & PWDs by Young Revolutionaries who have selflessly devoted time and efforts towards the betterment of the senior citizens & PWDs.
Day 3 – 15th September being the last day of the training was devoted to the preparation of an action plan by the participants which could be implemented in target areas of the State in the upliftment of these two sections of the society. Four Groups were made in which there were around 10 participants from different departments, the group leader presented the action plan at the end of the day. Day three also had session by Dr. Amit Dias, Asst. Prof, Dept. of Preventive Medicine, GMC on Medical Assistance to Senior Citizens. Mr. D. M. Pawaskar, Manager, Help Age India, (Goa Chapter) conducted a session on the role played by Help Age India. The Day ended with a session by Mr. Prasad Joshi, Founder President of Goa for Deaf, who shared his experience as a person with hearing impairment. He also taught the participants basic sign language used by an individual with hearing impairment. 44 officers from various departments attended the training program.
