With the national election just months away, the Kerala government has gone
into overdrive to ensure that voters with disabilities can get to polling
booths with little hassle. Key to this exercise is getting the numbers right
and authorities are carrying out a census of the number of disabled voters to
ensure there are vehicles available to transport them from their homes to the
polling booths.
Such moves have been well received across Kerala. All voters with
disabilities, be they wheelchair users or with speech and vision disabilities
will be provided with facilities. Authorities are getting the accurate
numbers with the help of records from the Social Justice department.
Basheer Mamburam is a member of the All Kerala
Wheelchair Rights Federation, one of the biggest NGOs working in the
disability space. Mamburam, who is based in Malappuram, said that they are
looking to improve upon the existing facilities for disabled voters.
Last year, for the by-elections, we ensured that all the polling booths are
made accessible and disabled-friendly. All the booths had wheelchair ramps
and disabled voters were glad that this could be implemented and all of
them could vote without any hassles. This year too, we are looking forward
to that. The Election Commission has chosen three of us to be part of their
team to assess accessibility features because only wheelchair users would
know what they need. – Basheer Mamburam, All Kerala Wheelchair
Rights Federation
Revenue authorities will take the census of disabled people in each place,
their needs and requirements and how to get them to the polling booths. They
will also ensure ambulance services for paralysed people.
According to reports, there are over 5,000 disabled people in
each district in Kerala. This is a sizeable number and therefore their votes
count.
“This year, the EC is ensuring that we have accessible elections. That is a
great initiative. They even chose disabled people from each district as brand
ambassadors to promote elections. Last by elections were successful as
accessible elections. Hope this year is going to be a great one too”, says
Jomy Joseph, a leading disability rights activist.
Hopefully this initiative will lead to greater participation from the
disabled voters in this election.
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features
Source: https://newzhook.com/story/21342
