Measures being taken for specially abled voters

The Election Commission (EC) in order to make the voting procedure easy for the specially abled people is taking various measures. The Election Commission officials are reaching out to these differently abled people to make them aware of the facilities they are going to be provided with and also encouraging them to exercise their voting rights. The Election Commission has arranged braille-enabled Electronic Voting Machines (EVM) for visually disabled voters and also conducted workshops to educate them about its uses. Ramps will also be mandatorily set up in polling booths for access to wheelchairs. EC officials are visiting the residence of these specially abled voters who are identified already to know the details of their disabilities and their locations. The District Election Officer (DEO) of North Kolkata, Dibyendu Sarkar reported that they have pointed out 1,500 specially abled voters in North Kolkata and prepared a list of these voters with their disabilities. He said, "We are making necessary arrangements for the differently-abled voters at the polling stations. A ramp will be put up on the ground with handrail so that wheelchairs can be rolled on the ramp. Voters with physical deformities need not to stand in the queue and they will be allowed to cast their votes the moment they step into the booth. Vehicles and wheelchairs will be arranged for persons requiring special assistance. We have already spoken to various organizations and NGOs to arrange for wheelchairs. Arrangements will be made to pick up these individuals from their homes and drop them back after voting."