The Election Commission (EC) has been planning to ensure the votes of old and specially-abled people in the city as not many of them have the facility or privilege to make it to their respective voting centres. This in itself is a movement towards assuring 100% votes and helping these people in contributing to our constitution.
There are 94,60,900 people in Mumbai who vote, 5,921 are specially abled. But 2,662 voters are from the island city while 3,259 reside in the suburbs. The EC is planning to use kaali peeli for the same but nothing has been finalised yet. Meanwhile, NGO’s are planning to collaborate with EC in order to offer vehicles for ferry voters.
Speaking to Hindustan Times, Shivaji Jondhale, collector of Mumbai said, “Physically challenged voters can request for the facility on the voting day through the Election Commission’s Persons With Disabilities (PWD) app. We are working on how many vehicles will be required. A booth-level officer will get all details and provide necessary assistance to the voters.”
It is also heard that palanquins will be used to carry the specially-abled, old people and also pregnant women if the voting booths and centres are on higher floors.