The office of the state chief electoral officer on Wednesday invited suggestions from all stakeholders including clubs, NGOs, civil bodies etc. working or have worked for or in collaboration with People with Disabilities (PwDs), to enhance accessibility for PwD electors or help in removing any bottlenecks that would hinder them while exercising their franchise.
The office of chief electoral officer, Manipur, following the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI), is making efforts to provide hassle free access to the entire election process to all, stated a release.
It has been endeavouring to ensure accessible and inclusive elections by enrolling all the eligible voters, particularly the PwDs and the marginalised sections of the society through a number of enabling measures with an objective of ‘No voters to be left behind’, it added.
It listed the measures and efforts which include the PwD Mobile App; marking of PwDs in the electoral roll; provision of ramp as a vital feature of Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF); provision of wheelchairs, pick and drop facilities, volunteers to assist them on the day of poll among others. PwD electors can also avail the Postal Ballot facility through the concern officials of the district election officers, it added.
These measures and facilities have particularly been strictly improvised by the chief electoral officer, Manipur with an aim to empower the differently abled individuals to enable them free and active participation in the electoral process, it further stated.
It further appealed to the stakeholders concerned to furnish an assembly constituency wise list of PwD electors, if available, not only for better marking of the PwD electors but also for linking them to the facilities specially designed for them. All such suggestions and feedback may be mailed to the mail id ceo_manipur@eci.gov.in and jtceo_manipur@eci.gov.in by November 20.
All valuable suggestions and feedback from all NGOs, organisations and other stakeholders concerned will highly be appreciated as it will go a long way in strengthening democracy, it added.
