Hailakandi administration to provide facilities to persons with disabilities for greater participation

Hailakandi administration to provide facilities to persons with disabilities for greater participation

A Correspondent

Hailakandi: All efforts are being made by the Hailakandi district administration to ensure that persons with disabilities (PwDs) get to vote in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls despite their handicaps. The district administration would ensure that PwD voters cast their votes and make the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) motto — “No voter to be left behind” — a reality. The district administration headed by Keerthi Jalli is mulling a series of PwD friendly measures to increase enhancements at polling stations.

As part of the initiative, the administration has focused on identifying the barriers, challenges and possible solutions for greater participation of PwDs in the electoral process.

In this connection, a meeting was convened by Jalli with disabled persons of the district on Sunday. Pledge was taken by the disabled persons thronging the Nazrul Sadan auditorium that they would vote and at the same time strive hardest to ensure all around them vote too in the upcoming elections on April 18. Under the EC’s Strategic Plan 2016-2025, greater participation of PwDs in the electoral process has been identified as one of the core objectives.

According to 2011 Census, India has around 70 million people with disabilities. The district administration is working hard to make the district the most disabled-friendly one. Arrangements are being made for providing wheelchairs to ensure PwDs reach the voting machines without any hurdles.

Free pick-up and drop facility will be provided to differently-abled voters from their residence to the polling station and back on election day. The ECI in its order said, “Each and every PwD should be tagged polling station-wise and he/she should be picked up from his/her residence and dropped back there after he/she has cast vote.”

Demonstrations are being given in the model polling stations to the disabled voters to educate and motivate them about the use of EVM and VVPAT machines. “Necessities required for PwD voters will be provided at polling booths. Booth level officers will assist them, “ said Jalli. Jalli called upon first-time voters to act as election ambassadors by spreading awareness on the importance of voting. “Voting is our democratic right and we must assert our right,” the DC said, adding that elections should be celebrated like a religious festival.

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