'Vehicles to ferry differently abled to polling booths'

Vehicles will be arranged to ferry senior citizens, differently abled and those incapable of walking to polling booths to help them exercise their franchise in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, said Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Systematic Voter’s Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) Committee Chairperson Sindhu B Roopesh.

She was speaking at voters awareness meeting, organised jointly by district administration and Sveep Committee here, on Tuesday.

“Wheelchairs and magnifying glasses will be kept in each polling booth to ensure hassle-free polling to differently abled and senior citizens.”

The officials should initiate measures to increase polling percentage by creating awareness among the voters, she said. The Sveep committee can organise rallies to create awareness among the voters to exercise their franchise judiciously. The awareness programmes should be transparent. No politically motivated messages should be posted on social media. Village Rehabilitation Workers (VRWs) and Multi Rehabilitation Workers (MRWs) should guide the physically challenged persons in their jurisdiction to the nearest polling booth.

Infact, VRWs and MRWs in all the 80 gram panchayats should ensure that all differently abled are familiar with EVM machines and motivated to exercise their franchise, she added.

As per Election Commission’s directions to help differently abled and senior citizens cast their votes, a special helpline was opened at Information Centre for Differently abled in Udupi district.

The differently abled can contact 0820-2574811, for information related to enrollment for voters list, facilities at polling booth, voters identity cards and so on, District officer of the Welfare of Disabled and Senior Citizens Niranjan said.

The Zilla Chief Executive Officer inaugurated the helpline.

In a separate meeting, Deputy Commissioner Hephsiba Rani Korlapati urged representatives of political parties not to violate model code of conduct. She said prior permissions should be sought to conduct campaigns. The political parties should furnish all suitable documents while seeking permissions for campaign and other publicity activities.

SP Nisha Jamesh also appealed to the representatives of political parties not to violate model code of conduct at places of worship. Strict action will be initiated against those who violate model code of conduct, she said.