Pune Polls: 90,000+ Disabled Voters to Benefit from Enhanced Facilities

Pune, 31st October 2024: District Collector Dr. Suhas Diwase has appealed to disabled and senior citizens to actively participate in voting during the upcoming Maharashtra Assembly General Elections on November 20, 2024. Special facilities, including wheelchairs, magnifying glasses, ramps, vehicle arrangements, and the appointment of volunteers, have been set up at polling stations to ensure a smooth voting experience for all.

Following the reorganization of polling stations across 21 Assembly constituencies in the district, a total of 8,462 polling stations have been finalized, with 3,225 new locations identified. According to the district’s ‘ERO Net’ software, there are 90,134 registered disabled voters, including 22,239 with physical disabilities, 3,864 who are deaf, 7,919 who are blind or visually impaired, and 56,112 with other disabilities.

To ensure inclusive voting, a comprehensive survey was conducted to map and flag disabled voters constituency-wise. The District Social Welfare Officer has been appointed as the Coordinating Officer for these efforts, with five additional officers serving as Assistant Nodal Officers for the District Disability Ward. A total of 22 officers have been appointed to manage constituency-wise disability cells, with one dedicated to overseeing the district-wide efforts.

In line with the Election Commission’s focus on inclusive elections, the District Model Committee on Accessible Elections (DMCAE), chaired by the District Collector, and the Vidhan Sabha Constituency-wise Accessible Elections Committee (ACCAE), chaired by the Election Decision Officer or Voter Registration Officer, have been established to monitor and evaluate these measures across the district.

Facilities for Disabled Voters

To assist disabled and senior voters, the district will provide 4,136 wheelchairs, 8,462 magnifying glasses, and 5,963 volunteers, in line with the Election Commission of India’s guidelines. Support from student volunteers from the National Cadet Corps, National Service Scheme, and Scout Guide will also be enlisted.

Additional amenities at polling stations include barrier-free access, ramps, ground-floor polling stations, transport facilities from home to the polling station, separate queues, direction boards, waiting rooms, drinking water, restrooms, parking areas, first aid boxes, help desks, Braille materials, and interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing. Voters with disabilities will also have the option to vote from home by filling out Form 12D. A dedicated helpline number (9226363002) has been established, and further requests from disabled voters can be accommodated through the Saksham app.

To raise awareness among disabled voters, 23 specially appointed “Disabled Icons” will lead campaigns on social media and through various advertisements.

Disability Voter Awareness Programs

In a bid to promote voter registration among people with disabilities, 48 registration drives have been held, benefiting 242 voters. Between September 20 and October 26, 2024, 73 awareness programs have been organized throughout the district. These initiatives have included activities such as the reading of voting oaths, rallies featuring disabled voters and students, street plays, rangoli and painting competitions, and campaigns run by disabled students, who have encouraged their parents to vote.

The District Social Welfare Officer, Radhakisan Deodhe, who serves as the Coordinating Officer for the Disability Ward under the Assembly General Election, has expressed confidence that these efforts will significantly increase voter turnout among the disabled population.