Bhopal: The differently-abled voters in the city say that they will back the candidates who are sensitive to their needs and problems and are in favour of affording them a level playing field. They told Free Press that they expect the new government to create more job opportunities and improve basic amenities like drinking water, health care, roads and sanitation.
They were appreciative of the facilities being provided by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to the differently-abled voters for the first time in the Assembly elections in the state like Sugamya App, Braille voter slips and transport to and from the polling booths. A visually-impaired voter suggested that the EVMs should also ‘talk’ like ATMs do so that the visually-impaired voters can maintain secrecy of their vote. “All blind persons don’t know Braille,” she said.
Of the 5.04 crore voters in Madhya Pradesh, 3.40 lakh are Persons with Disabilities (PwDs). Thus, they form 0.6 per cent of the total electors. The total number of differently-abled voters who have registered themselves on ‘Sugamya App’ is 3.06 lakh.
Excerpts :
Puja B. Subramaniam, Director, Bolster Engineering Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
I vote for the candidate who is active and sensitive towards our problems. He should be readily approachable after the elections. My expectations from the next government are that it should fulfil our basic requirements like water, roads, sanitation and health care. The Central government has launched many schemes for PwDs. I think the state government too should be active on this front. I voted for the first time when I was 36. Till last year, I had to face problems in reaching my pooling booth. The ECI has announced some steps to make things easier for the PwDs but let us see how it works out at the ground level.
Santwana Aras, chartered accountant
I vote on the basis of the track record of the candidates like what they have done for development and education, especially for the differently-abled. I expect the new government to give us facilities like scholarships etc so that we can become economically independent and compete with normal people. I also want that government to take steps to improve access to public places for the disabled. This time, the EC has made arrangements for transporting the differently-abled voters to the polling booths. This is a positive development.
Madhurkant Gupta, ASI, Mandi Board
My choice of candidate depends on their previous works and their party manifesto. I also watch videos of their speeches on social media to know what they will do for us if they are elected. My only expectation from new government is that it should generate more employment so that people of the state don’t need to go for other states for jobs. The number of unemployed youth in the state is quite big. No doubt, the facilities which are being provided for differently-abled voters are appreciable but they have come too late. We also want that the government should not only give us facilities but should also make schemes for our welfare.
Divyata Garg, 40, music teacher and singer
I have been voting since I turned 18. This time, thanks to the ECI, we won’t have to depend on others to take us to the polling booth. Braille voter slips are fine but not all blind persons know Braille. So I would suggest that the EVMs should ‘talk’ so that we can maintain the secrecy of our vote. I vote for the candidate and party which understand our problems and are committed to giving us equal opportunities. Despite different initiatives by the government, we are still discriminated against. We don’t need sympathy, we want our rights. Sirf naam (viklang se divyang) badlne se kutchh nahi hoga… There is a need to change the attitude of the people towards us.
Whom does EC consider a PwD?
Voters having any of the 21 disabilities as mentioned in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016 (PwD) are termed as voters with disabilities. The Voters with Disabilities are divided into four broad categories – locomotor disability, visual impairment, hearing impairment and intellectual disability. The EC has identified disabled voters and has made special arrangements for each category of them.
Braille ballot paper for visually-impaired
Under Conduct of Election rules, 1961, if owing to blindness or other physical infirmities, an elector is unable to recognise the symbol on the EVM or unable to record his vote by pressing the appropriate button, the presiding officer shall permit the elector to take with him a companion of not less than 18 years of age to the voting compartment for recording the vote on his behalf and in accordance with his wishes.
However, this time, blind voters who can read Braille script can do without a companion. They will be provided a ballot paper in Braille format at the polling booth, carrying the serial number, name, party name and symbol of each candidate. They can decide which candidate they want to vote for and memorise his or her serial number. Once they are taken to the voting enclosure, they can press the appropriate button on the EVMs, which will have the serial number written in Braille.