epaper.lokmat.com/articlepag… My weekly column on issues of disability in daily Lokmat today on Sunday October 19,2025 analysis the reality of grossly poor Political participation of Persons with Disability. They continue to face systemic barriers, biases, and stereotypes that hinder them from contesting elections. This needs to change. Ensuring the political participation of persons with disabilities is not merely about making the voting process accessible. It is to ensure that PswD are not only voters but also candidates. India needs more persons with disabilities running for office. Significant lack of political will to support their candidacy has led to their being grossly under-represented in politics. Major political reforms need to be pushed for this, yesterday. @MSJEGOI @Office_of_CCPD @GoaHumaneTrust @Varsha270819 @ECISVEEP @SpokespersonECI @RahulGandhi @RahulGuptaIPS @Rahul400 @Prksh_Ambedkar @goadisability @nagvekarvishant @armanaly @Coll_NorthGoa @Coll_SouthGoa @EgnaCleetus @PMOIndia @MrinalPande1 @sardesairajdeep @SudheenKulkarni @TukaramGaonkar4 @Sugamyata @puneetsinghal22

@SPCyberGoa SP Mr. Rahul Gupta who is @spnorthgoa and SP Crime Branch visited the @FirstSutraFdn and Cyber Crime Police @Goa_Police stall C-48. He was welcomed along with me by @skbehera76 and @sanjibdash76, all Directors and SDPO Panaji Mr. Sudesh Naik. Mr. Gupta expressed satisfaction about cyber awareness generation @purplefestgoa @DGP_Goa @dip_goa @spsouthgoa @Coll_NorthGoa @Coll_SouthGoa @Varsha270819 @GoaHumaneTrust @avelinodesa @Amockx2022 @SachiRupaliK @SPTrafficGoa

We are thankful to Mr. Paresh Gandhi, CEO,Divyang Bhavan Foundation, Mr. Girish Parlekar, CS and Mr. Abhijit Murugkar, Accessibility Consultant Goa government @abhimurugkar , all Pune, for visiting our stall C-48 at @purplefestgoa 2025 Had a healthy discussion on our activities with touching lives of Sr Citizens and PswD. We @FirstSutraFdn discussed about our new association with Goa Cyber Yoddhas for awareness of Sr. Citizens on #cybercrimeandfrauds, in association with @SPCyberGoa @goapolice who are doing a stellar job in Cyber security and safety awareness. @RahulGuptaIPS @DGP_Goa @Sanjibdash76 @SKBEHERA76

@SPCyberGoa of @Goa_Police stall active at @purplefestgoa in Panaji at stall 48 courtesy @FirstSutraFdn. Cyber Yoddha's @PrakashWKamatPK @sahil_awasthi11 Franco Araujo PC - Sachin Naik PC - Balchandra Naik PC- Sukha Gaonkar at the stall spreading cyber Awareness. @DGP_Goa @dip_goa @Varsha270819 @SPTrafficGoa @RahulGuptaIPS @spnorthgoa @spsouthgoa @goadisability @GoaHumaneTrust @SachiRupaliK

Goa Rahya Sabha MP @ShetSadanand visited the stall of @FirstSutraFdn at the @purplefestgoa on October 11,2025 and appreciated the work being done by the organisation for the persons with disability and assisting the aging people. @goadisability @RahulGuptaIPS @spnorthgoa @spsouthgoa @subhashshirodkr @discommgoa @PremroopAlva @HemoIndia @GoaHumaneTrust @GoaHemophilia

SDPO Bicholim and ASP, Goa Cybercrime Police station Sridevi B V,IPS visited @FirstSutraFdn stall at the @purplefestgoa on October 11,2025 where @SPCyberGoa has been conducting Cyber Crime awareness for citizens, especially vulnerable communities like persons with disability and senior citizens. Cybercrime awareness is a very important initiative of @Goa_Police with training and participation of youths as CyberYoddhas as citizens of Goa are losing huge money in cyber frauds. @DGP_Goa @spnorthgoa @spsouthgoa @Coll_NorthGoa @Coll_SouthGoa @SKBEHERA76 @RahulGuptaIPS @GoaHemophilia @PremroopAlva @Cyberdost @cyberabadpolice @CYBTRAFFIC @SKBEHERA76