21 ambassadors to promote inclusivity at Purple Fest ’25

Panaji: Twenty-one persons overcoming different disabilities have been appointed as Purple Ambassadors for Goa govt’s Purple Fest, scheduled between Oct 9 and 12 in Panaji. Most ambassadors are women, and three are from Goa.

The 21 individuals represent a different disability each and include an acid attack survivor, persons with low vision, locomotor disability, haemophilia, dwarfism, autism, muscular dystrophy, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, and other disabilities.

The 2025 edition of the Purple Fest will emphasise participation from rural regions to ensure that voices from all corners of the country are represented. The Purple Ambassadors will engage in on-ground and online outreach to promote the fest, participate in key segments of the festival, contribute to inclusive dialogues, offer feedback to improve accessibility and inclusivity of the festival, and continue advocacy for disability rights within their regions post the festival.

Minister for empowerment of persons with disabilities, Subhash Phal Dessai, said the individuals are “not just representatives but change-makers who will lead the way in promoting accessibility, awareness, and dignity for persons with disability”. Director of the department of empowerment of persons with disabilities, Varsha Naik, said each Purple Ambassador was carefully chosen not just for representation but for their potential to inspire, engage and create change.