National
Lok Sabha adjourned after paying tribute to Jayalalithaa
New Delhi: Lok Sabha was on Tuesday adjourned for the day after paying tribute to the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, who passed away late on Monday.
Speaker Sumitra Mahajan remembered her as a “popular and eminent leader”. Members stood in silence as a mark of respect to the AIADMK leader.
The house was then adjourned for the day. Jayalalithaa died at 11.30 p.m. on Monday after suffering a cardiac arrest on Sunday. She was 68.
National
Cheers and Cheers: Barzilla’s Joyful Ode to Inclusivity and Celebration
The RG Marathon Championship Run 2023 in Goa was a testament to inclusivity. Initially resistant to including persons with disabilities, it eventually featured wheelchair and standing categories, thanks to advocates’ efforts. Participants showed exceptional determination, emphasizing unity in diversity. Despite challenging weather, they demonstrated the power of community support, highlighting the need for accessibility and inclusion in all state-level events in Goa.
Following the marathon, a gathering of differently-abled individuals, predominantly wheelchair users, convened for a celebratory lunch at Barzilla. The event, orchestrated by Mr. Shariq Khan and Mr. Zain Aftab, proprietors of Barzilla, honored the birthday of Sadaf Fatima, who also uses a wheelchair and is Mr. Shariq Khan’s wife.
The lunch featured esteemed guests including the Tourism Minister of Goa, MLA Rohan Khaunte of Porvorim, Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Desai, and the State Commissioner for Persons with Disability in Goa, Guruprasad Pawaskar. The event was impeccably hosted by Ms. Falak Fatima and Mr. Adarsh Parashar, offering activities such as Karaoke and Billiards. The youth of Goa exhibited their unwavering support for the community, making the party an unequivocal success.