‘3 persons with disabilities friendly booths in DK’

Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer and Sveep Committee Chairman Dr Selvamani R said that three persons with disabilities (PWD)-friendly polling booths would be set up in Dakshina Kannada district.

“The polling booths will be set up in Mangaluru, Belthangady and Puttur taluks. All the three polling booths will be managed by differently abled officials. The setting up of PWD-friendly polling booths aims to inform the public that differently abled officials are also capable of handling election-related works and are equal to others.”

All efforts have been made to ensure 100% polling by the persons with disabilities in the district. The district has 10,911 PWD voters, of which 5,756 are physically challenged, 829 are visually impaired, 1,006 are hearing impaired, 3,320 suffer from various disabilities, Selvamani said.

The Election Commission wants to ensure that none are denied of exercising their franchise.

Keeping in mind the differently abled voters, the authorities have made vehicle arrangements to transport them to 1,014 polling booths in the district, he said.

The CEO said, “All the visually impaired voters will be given magnifying glass and a ballot in Braille script. A nodal officer has been appointed in each gram panchayat.”

He said that all measures have been taken to ensure free and fair polling in the district. The department Welfare of Disabled and Senior Citizens has made all arrangement to help the physically challenged voters to exercise their franchise.

Election Observer Rajeev Rathan visited Sullia and Puttur Assembly constituencies and inspected the preparations for the Lok Sabha elections.

A voters awareness programme, ‘Walk With Talk’ will be jointly organised by Sveep Committee, district Kannada Sahithya Parishat, AIR-Mangaluru and Rotaract Club of Mangaluru City at Kadri Park on April 11 from 4.30 pm to 6 pm.

The achievers from various walks of life will speak on the importance of voting in democracy.

Brigadier (retd) I N Rai will inaugurate the programme.Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil, Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr Selvamani and others will take part.