HYDERABAD: As the Election Commission of India (ECI) has laid special emphasis on making the election process accessible for all sections of the electorate, especially the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) and infirm electors, Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) is making necessary arrangements for PwDs for casting their votes in a hassle-free manner.
As there are little over seven lakh PwD voters in the State, the State Disabled Welfare department has over 4.12 lakh PwDs and this data has been collected from Sadarem certificates and these PwD electors have been flagged in the electoral rolls part-wise. For the remaining three lakh PwDs voters above 18 years, mapping is being carried out to identify them and the process is expected to be completed by November 10. Speaking to reporters after attending a workshop on PwDs on Tuesday, Telangana CEO Rajat Kumar said that after completing PwDs identification, minimum facilities would be ensured at the polling stations such as provision of sturdy ramps, wheelchairs, signage boards, designated parking, direct access to polling stations and to and fro transport with the help of Booth Level Officers (BLOs).
A data base of PwD voters is being created and such electors are being enrolled and mapped with polling stations where BLOs would be attached to the PwDs. As per the estimates, about 14,000 wheelchairs would be required during the polls, District Collectors have been issued instructions to procure wheelchairs from the funds allocated which are not utilised. A total of `1.50 crore would be incurred.
A dedicated help desk will be established at the district level for PwDs to attend to their grievances if any, the CEO said. To increase voting percentage in the state, the ECI will take up second round of voter awareness programme on a mass scale, he said.
Technology to the rescue: VAADA app
Hyderabad: Telangana CEO Rajat Kumar said that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation had come up with a special application for PwDs called the Voter Accessibility App for the Differently Abled (VAADA). This Mobile App makes the voting process for the differently-abled convenient and increases the accessibility factor. VAADA has a text, voice as well as GIS (Geographic Information System) interface. Through the GIS, the app can note location details will avoid confusion and duplication. It will also facilitate authorities to zero-in on the exact location of persons with disabilities.