Niharika Das
Research &Communication Officer Disability Law Unit – North East
All marginalized groups present in the society have always interested the political parties except for people with disability. With disability legislations in the country over the last two decades, there are many provisions for persons with disabilities but implementation of the same has been painstakingly slow. Myriad factors of poverty, physical inaccessibility, attitudinal barriers and stereotyping of disability all work in tandem to continue to segregate and exclude persons with disabilities from mainstream society. Along with all of these factors, lack of political will to ensure rights of people with disabilities is also one of the key factors which contributes to marginalization of persons with disabilities.
People with disabilities are, more often than not, excluded in the electoral process and they do not have political representation - disability issues are not part of political manifestos, people with disabilities are not registered in the electoral lists, polling booths and voting processes are inaccessible – which all limit the democratic participation of disabled people in one of the largest electoral exercise across the world. Because of lack of representation, decisions are being made by others on their behalf which does little to help address the issues and challenges faced by people with disabilities. Besides the right to vote being a constitutional right, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 specifically mandates the Election Commission of India and the State Election Commissions to ensure that all polling stations are accessible to persons with disabilities and all materials related to the electoral process are accessible to them. Unless the entire process is accessible and inclusive, there will be no representation of people with disability at the decision making level and the vicious cycle of exclusion and denial of rights of persons with disabilities will continue.
Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities has been given a special focus in the Election Commission’s strategic plan 2016-2025 and Accessible Elections has been made the central theme for this year’s National Voters' Day celebration which aligns with that of this year’s theme of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities of “Empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality”. If we reflect on the celebrations of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities for the past decade or so, it is evident that ‘inclusion’, ‘access’, ‘empowerment’, ‘social integration’, ‘promote dignity’, ‘sustainability’ has been some of the central themes across the years and the focus of the International Disability Day, 2018 is nothing but a reiteration and reaffirmation of the same.
The Election Commission of India is set to introduce the ballot paper in Braille with the name of the candidates along with their party symbols in the upcoming Panchayat elections. Wheelchair facilities at the polling booths, accessible ramps, escorts for people who require assistance are other facilities to be provided. It is hoped that persons with disabilities will come forth to participate in the ensuing Panchayat elections, 2018 and exercise their right to franchise because inclusion of persons with disabilities largely depend on effective implementation of laws and beneficial schemes at the grassroots level by the elected representatives who would be the duty bearers entrusted with the role and responsibility of ensuring access to rights for persons with disabilties.