Staff Reporter

Panaji

In order to make travel hassle-free for persons with disabilities (PwDs), Chief Minister Pramod Sawant will flag off wheelchair accessible e-rickshaws on Monday at the Institute Menezes Braganza in Panaji, as part of ‘Seva, Sushasan, Jan Kalyan’ initiative.

The Office of the State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities is initiating wheelchair accessible e-rickshaw services in the state. This will be managed by Ezy Mov, a pioneer in wheelchair taxi
services.

Guruprasad Pawaskar, the commissioner of the office of persons with disabilities said, “Wheelchair users confront several challenges while travelling to workplaces, hospitals, schools, and other sites. Therefore, we are starting this service to make travel easier for them.”

In order to assist delegates with disabilities and senior citizens, the wheelchair accessible e-rickshaws were introduced in the state for the first time during the Purple Fest. The Purple Fest saw a large number of Goan delegates with disabilities who expressed their opinion that it would be wonderful if such rickshaws were accessible all year round in the state.

Pawaskar further said, “Two family members can accompany the passenger with disability in this vehicle, which has a ramp that doubles up as the door in the rear. Besides, there has been utmost importance given to safety where the wheelchair is strapped on all four sides.”