<p> For the first time, the Tamil Nadu elections will have exclusive polling booths allocated for physically challenged, including visually impaired persons.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The new initiative from the Election Commission of India (ECI) came against the backdrop of several representations from various associations of the differently-abled persons living in the state, who gave their innovative suggestions.<br /><br />“Though all the 63,118 booths in the state will have proper ramps, following several requests, the Commission has planned to set up exclusive polling stations for differently-abled persons if that particular zone has more than 100 physically challenged people,” a senior official from the ECI told Deccan Herald on Sunday.<br /><br />“At present, we are verifying the data of the differently-abled people for establishing exclusive booths,” he said, adding a braille form of election manifestos will also be available for visually-impaired. “A permanent braille to be etched in the ballot is already suggested,” the official said.<br /><br />According to him, several volunteers will also be deployed in those booths to help the differently-abled people by accompanying them to polling booth.<br /><br />In addition, the ECI has planned to take measures of transporting differently-abled persons to polling stations in hilly areas, allow their vehicles near to the gate of the polling stations.<br /><br />The ECI is also planning to implement the differently-abled friendly exclusive polling booths to the neighbouring Puducherry too.<br /><br />senior official from ECI: At present, we are verifying the data of the differently-abled people for establishing exclusive booths...a braille form of election manifestos will also be available for visually-impaired<br /></p>
<p> For the first time, the Tamil Nadu elections will have exclusive polling booths allocated for physically challenged, including visually impaired persons.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The new initiative from the Election Commission of India (ECI) came against the backdrop of several representations from various associations of the differently-abled persons living in the state, who gave their innovative suggestions.<br /><br />“Though all the 63,118 booths in the state will have proper ramps, following several requests, the Commission has planned to set up exclusive polling stations for differently-abled persons if that particular zone has more than 100 physically challenged people,” a senior official from the ECI told Deccan Herald on Sunday.<br /><br />“At present, we are verifying the data of the differently-abled people for establishing exclusive booths,” he said, adding a braille form of election manifestos will also be available for visually-impaired. “A permanent braille to be etched in the ballot is already suggested,” the official said.<br /><br />According to him, several volunteers will also be deployed in those booths to help the differently-abled people by accompanying them to polling booth.<br /><br />In addition, the ECI has planned to take measures of transporting differently-abled persons to polling stations in hilly areas, allow their vehicles near to the gate of the polling stations.<br /><br />The ECI is also planning to implement the differently-abled friendly exclusive polling booths to the neighbouring Puducherry too.<br /><br />senior official from ECI: At present, we are verifying the data of the differently-abled people for establishing exclusive booths...a braille form of election manifestos will also be available for visually-impaired<br /></p>
