Election Commission wants booths to be disabled-friendly

The EC wants to ensure that the differently-disabled get Assured Minimum Facilities at each polling station

After successful implementation of making the provision of a dummy ballot paper in Braille language for visually-impaired persons, the Election Commission of India (ECI) is now focusing on Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to ensure an increase in percentage of voting. The ECI has issued guidelines to all Booth Level officers (BLOs) to maintain a database of PwDs in each polling station and also instructed to ensure they will get Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) at such stations.

As per the 2011 Census, the total population of PwDs in Maharashtra is 12.48 lakhs. Out of these 8.82 lakh are male and 3.65 lakh are female. As per the ECIs electoral rolls published in January this year the total voter population of Maharashtra is 8.16 crore, out of which 4.29 crore are male, 3.86 female and 1,271 Others (Transgender) category voters.

Sources from the state election commission said that at present there is no category wise separate list of voters with PwDs. As per the ECI guidelines issued on September 7, the BLOs are expected to display elaborate instructions on PwD outside the polling station. Voter guide, voter slips and Voter Identity Cards (EPIC) for visually-impaired electors should be prepared in Braille wherever possible.

State BJP’s Divyang Aghadi president Rajendra Purohit has welcomed the move.

“The directive assumes significance as it comes months before the 2017 civic elections to Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC),” Mr Purohit said.

Reacting to the ECI guidelines, Mr Purohit remarked that often the government is not aware of the problems PwD face. “We have to tell the government as to what facilities we want. The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan is one such initiative of the government that allows PwDs with hindrance free travel.” He further said, “They should depute officials at polling booths who are specially trained in sign languages to guide PwD voter who has hearing disability. They should be taking the help of NGO’s and people like us while framing any guidelines.”

Permanent ramps with appropriate gradient should be provided as per national standards

Braille facility should be provided in the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)

Proper accessibility to the polling station should be ensured

Proper parking facility should be made available at the polling stations