Assistance provided for persons with disabilities

PANAJI: This election, persons with disabilities (PWDs) can request for voter’s assistance in the form of wheelchairs as well as transportation to and from the polling booth on April 23, systematic voter’s education and electoral participation (SVEEP) nodal officer for North Goa, Gervasio Mendes said.

“Wheelchairs will be available on demand. Persons with disabilities can inform their booth level officer or section officer in case transportation facility is required on the day of voting. Ramps are being put in place at all polling stations and are among the minimum assured facilities along with drinking water and toilets that will be available at all polling stations,” he said.

Booth level officers are maintaining booth level data on electorate with disabilities. Persons with disabilities have also been asked to register on the election commission’s PWD app where they can also make requests for services.

Electoral officials have been conducting election awareness sessions across the state. One such drive was conducted at the national association for the blind, where voters were educated about the electoral process. A specially designed quiz on various aspects of ethical voting was also held for them, SVEEP nodal officer, North Goa, Gervasio Mendes said.

Another drive was conducted in Cotigao for members of the Dhangar community, Sawant said, where members of the community, who had never voted earlier, were assisted in filling up registration forms.

In the 2017 assembly polls, although ramps were provided, some were of temporary plywood where persons with disabilities complained that these were of very high gradient, without handrails.