SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT FOR DISABLED VOTERS IN DELHI

Delhi's first-ever integrated model to facilitate the disabled people vote seamlessly will be replicated in all other states after the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. According to Election Commmission sources, the model for the disabled initiated by the Delhi's Chief Electoral Office has been liked by the officials of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment. "This initiative cannot be replicated in this election as there is very less time left for the polls to begin. The model along with making voting a smooth affair for the disabled voters also aims at sensitizing the polling officials about them," said an official from the Ministry. The book and the video film made by the Delhi's CEO, will be made available to all the states. According to the Delhi CEO, Vijay Dev, providing special training to the polling officials have already started. "There will be seven nodel officials from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment who will coordinate with the returning officers to ensure that all facilities at the polling stations are made available in terms of seamless travel inside the polling station and while casting votes. This training module has been made in active collaboration with NGOs," Dev said. "The objective of this programme is to train them to be human and sensitize them about dealing with the behaviour of persons with disability," said Dev. Further, a software has been developed by which voters with disabilities can register themselves and mention their specific needs for the polling day. The link will be available on the official website of the Delhi Election Office. Dev recently held a meeting with the officials from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment which included Joint Secretary Awanish Kumar Awasthi, all NGOs and Civil society organisations and seven returning officers. Almost 80,000 disabled voters, including the visually challenged and hearing impaired, will be casting their votes in the upcoming Lok sabha elections. As per the arrangements, there will be one wheelchair in each polling station along with volunteers with "May I Help You" tags. Apart from that, there will be ramps and railings and other facilities.