'Transport to ferry specially abled to polling booths'

Transport facilities will be arranged to ferry physically challenged voters to the polling booths to exercise their franchise, said Mysuru Regional Commissioner T K Anil Kumar.

Wheelchairs should also be arranged at the polling booths, he added.

Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday, he said all the polling booths have toilet, drinking water and electricity connections.

In addition, he said that the roads leading to the polling booths should be in good condition.

Kodagu is a Malnad district. The schools are situated in hilly areas. As a result, the road leading to the polling booths from the main road should be repaired, he told the nodal officers.

The Election Commission to has given special emphasis for the physically challenged to reach the polling booth. All the guidelines issued by the Election Commission should be adhered to, said Anil Kumar.

Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (Sveep) Committee Chairman and Zilla Panchayat CEO K Lakshmi Priya said that Kodagu district has 3,090 persons with disabilities. Madikeri Assembly segment has 1,696 persons with disabilities, while Virajpet has 1,394 persons with disabilities. Of these 3,090 persons, 1,978 are men.

She said that ramp facilities have been provided at all the 543 polling booths. As many as 357 wheelchairs, 463 magnifying glasses, 380 braille voter slips will be utilised.

In addition, the services of 146 jeeps and autorickshaws will be utilised for ferrying specially abled persons to the polling booth. A total of 670 volunteers will help specially abled people at the polling stations, she explained.

The CEO said that the services of rural rehabilitation workers will be utilised, to get the specially abled to the polling booths to exercise their franchise. Already, awareness programmes have been organised including candle march, demonstrations on EVM and VVPAT, jatha, rally, street plays to create awareness on voting. Even specially abled persons have been appointed as ambassadors to spread the message on ethical voting.

Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Annies Kanmani Joy also spoke at the meeting. Additional Deputy Commissioner P Shivaraju and others were present.