Chief Election Commissioner and Senior Officials of ECI interaction with Disabled persons

The Hon’ble Election Commission of India has declared the “Accessible Elections” as the central theme for this year’s National Voters’ Day celebrations. As part of the theme, special focus is being given to facilitate a larger engagement of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in the electoral process.  Across the state 4,12,098 PwD electors have been mapped in the electoral rolls part-wise based on information collected from the Sadarem database . 

Today the Chief Election Commissioner Sh Om Prakash Rawat and Election Commissioners Sh Ashok Lavasa and Sh Sunil Arora today interacted with the 9 celebrities with the disabilities who have agreed to work with the office of the CEO as icons.  Ms Abhinaya the State icon for PwDs interacted with the ECI team today morning. Their details are as follows

Name of the Candidate	Profession	Type of Disability
Sravya	Singer	Visually Impaired
Mahender Vaishnav	International Blind Cricketer	Visually Impaired
G.Madhu	International Blind Cricketer	Visually Impaired
Anees Sulthana	IT Developer	Visually Impaired
T.Venkatesh	Radio Jockey	Visually Impaired
Abhinaya	Actor	Hearing Impaired
Thandan Babu Nayak	Scientist - R&D	Orthopedically challenged
Narsing Rao	Barrier Free Campaigner	Orthopedically challenged
Sujatha	TV Anchor	Muscular Dystrophy

During the interaction, the need to engage more PwDs and increase the number mapped to the polling stations was discussed. It was pointed out that the Form 6 used for voter enrollment has an option where the new voter can specify her disability (if any). The Election Commission launched Braille epic cards and voter slips today.

  CEC and the Election Commission flagged GHMC’s model mobile van showing the Model Polling Station for PwDs  and a mobile van for EVM & VVPAT being used to create awareness among the electors.

The Commission  also inaugurated “VAADA” (Voter Accessibility App for the Differently Abled) developed by GHMC.  This Mobile App makes the voting process for the Differently Abled convenient and increases the accessibility by enabling them to request for transportation and identification of location of their polling station.  VAADA has a text, voice as well as GIS (Geographic Information System) interface.  The voice interface has been specially included keeping in mind the challenges of the differently abled. 

                       

Two films made with celebrities Mr.Pullela Gopichand (Badminton Player & Coach) and Mr.V.V.S.Lakshman (Cricket Player) with Sign language on enrolment & ethical voting were also launched by the Commission.

As part of the drive to make the voting process easier for PwDs, the CEO Sh Rajat Kumar has instructed District Collectors to ensure that the following minimum facilities are ensured at Polling Stations:

a)    Provision of sturdy ramps

b)    Wheel chairs

c)    Signage Boards

d)    Designated parking

e)    Direct access to polling stations

f)     Free Transportation to and from Polling Stations

g)    Polling stations located on ground floor

-Press note