NEW DELHI: Persons with Disabilities (PwD) icons of the Election Commission, both at the national and state level, on Friday shared their feedback with EC regarding its efforts in the recent years to include the differently-abled in the election process by offering them minimum assured facilities like ramp and ‘braille’ ballot paper at the polling station, while also offering suggestions on how to facilitate them further.
At the national conference of PwD icons for Accessible Elections organised by EC here, chief election commissioner Rajiv Kumar said that ECI is committed to mainstream and deeply embed the concept and practice of accessibility in all its processes and functioning.
Complementing the indomitable spirit of PwDs who not only participated in the conference but also showcased their talent with dance and song performances, Kumar said that real disability is perhaps “own disability to see the inner ability of the differently-abled persons”.
While highlighting various initiatives taken by ECI to make elections accessible and inclusive, the CEC said that ECI will consider the fresh suggestions put forward by PwD icons – to make elections even more inclusive. He added that ECI was collaborating with the department of persons with disabilities to identify more voters with special needs.
Among the suggestions received from the state icons – both in person and from the states via videoconferencing – on Friday was one to train the police and poll officials in such a way that they know about PwD voters’ special needs and work to fulfil them. West Bengal icon Jija Ghosh said she had learnt from an interaction with a CRPF personnel during the last poll, that he was not aware what a ramp is. “We need to train the poll officers and CRPF about the needs of PwDs,” she suggested.
Tiffany, Kerala PwD icon, suggested that the differently-abled be offered some training or tutorial on how to effectively use the dedicated EC application meant to facilitate PwDs so that they can get the most out of it. Chitrasen from Chhattisgarh sought more work on data regarding PwDs, saying that EC should try to identify PwDs who are not yet mapped and also record the level of disability in each PwD. Goa state icon sought the electoral roll to be put out in a readable PDF format.
National PwD icon for EC Niru Kumar – a Padma Shri awardee – appreciated EC for taking the lead in focusing on the needs of PwD by making the polling booths more accessible. She suggested that other government bodies follow the EC’s example, while also recommending that the polling personnel and police be trained and conditioned in such a way that their facilitation of PwDs extends beyond elections.
Election commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey said that the national conference of PwD icons offers a forum to brainstorm and exchange ideas for making elections more accessible and inclusive. He stressed that the focus of ECI has been to enhance participation, strengthen facilitation, mould public perceptions about the potential of PwDs and include their voice as equal citizens.
The CEC, along with his election commissioner Pandey, launched the PwD App 2.0, an updated version of the dedicated EC app to facilitate various services for PwDs from the process of registration to availing pick and drop facility on the poll day.
