Team Herald
MARGAO: Collector South Ajit Roy who is also the Returning Officer for the South Goa Lok Sabha elections while terming the differently-abled voters as “Most Valued Voters” enunciated the various arrangements made to assist the 3263 such voters in the 810 polling booths in the constituency.
He said every polling booth has been provided with a ramp and wheel chair to assist those affected by locomotor disability. Besides, every polling booth has been provided with two volunteers to assist such voters. Incidentally there are 1,239 people suffering from locomotor disability.
The few polling booths where ramp could not be provided as the slope was very steep, two additional volunteers have been provided, said Ajit Roy who added that the wheel chair could be used by people suffering from an injury or the old and feeble and even pregnant women.
For the first time Braille ballot papers have been provided to the 288 visually impaired voters in the constituency and the returning officer disclosed that around 95% of the visually impaired people can read Braille and that is why these special ballot papers have been prepared for them.
The 314 speech and hearing disabled persons have been provided with special posters using sign language to help them participate in the election process. Besides, the Election Commission of India has issued an advisory explaining the right attitude and behavior for polling booth staff with courtesy and patience being the key ingredients.
Besides these specifically disabled persons, there are 1,422 voters suffering from other disabilities and arrangements have been made to address their problems too.
Replying to a question he said nobody will be allowed to accompany the differently abled voted near the EVM compartment and at the most a family member will be permitted to accompany the person right up to the polling booth.
However, Tajha Haaziq the State co-ordinator for differently abled voters said if the disabled voter really requires a family members help that will be allowed provided the actual pressing of the button is done by the voter and not the person accompanying him or her.
