Mapping helps identify 5,642 disabled voters

Rajkot: In a first-of-its kind initiative, the Rajkot district collectorate has conducted an elaborate micro-mapping to enable maximum number of disabled voters to cast their franchise.

Rajkot collector Dr Vikrant Pandey told TOI that this is the first district in Gujarat where such a detailed exercise to find out disabled voters has been carried out. "We have identified 5,642 disabled voters in Rajkot district after an elaborate booth-wise mapping. The micro level planning was done under the theme of 'abled election' with an aim to ensure that at least 80% disabled voters can cast the ballot," Pandey said.

After identifying such voters, the administration asked them to fill up a form to know their special requirements.

According to the data, nearly 1,700 voters gave details of their requirements and asked for physical assistance to vote.

"It's a general guideline of election commission to facilitate voters with disabilities. But this kind of theme-based micro planning to maximize voting by disabled people has been done for the first time," he said.

Moreover, the collectorate has prepared a dedicated team of volunteers who will assist the voters at every booth. The team comprises of NCC students and temporary employees of social justice department. These volunteers have been given special training to assist these voters.

"This is a team of 230 volunteers who are non-political. They will deployed on the route of polling stations and homes of voters with disabilities. These voters will be given all the necessary assistance," Pandey said.

The disabled voters will be provided wheelchairs at polling stations and human assistance to take them to Electronic Voting Machine (EVM). The blind voters will be taken to EVM and provided Braille language and those who can't read Braille, volunteers will ask their discloser and help them to cast the vote. The sign language will be provided for hearing-and-speech impaired.

According to officials, these volunteers are also in the contact of family members of these disabled voters to assist them better. Family members have also been encouraged to bring them to the polling stations.