Manipur additional chief electoral officer N Praveen on Monday sought public support and cooperation in identifying the People with Disabilities (PwDs) who have been left out from the electoral roll, so that they may be enrolled.
He announced that for easy accessibility by the public for corrections and inclusion in the electoral roll, mobile apps have already been developed.
An awareness programme on the rights and importance of the participation of PwDs in upcoming election’ was held on Monday at Dance College, Palace Compound in Imphal.
Sponsored by chief electoral officer, Manipur in association with Social Welfare department, Manipur, Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research, Cuttack Odisha, the programme was organised by Handicapped Development Foundation.
N Praveen Singh said that the enrolment of PwDs is of utmost importance to fully exercise their adult franchise in the election.
He said that marking of already enrolled PwDs in the electoral roll will enable inclusive and accessible elections.
This will help in preparing all polling stations easily accessible by people with disabilities and all material related to electoral process can be made easily understandable and usable by them.
It will also make them avail the Assured Minimum Facility (AMF) in all the polling stations, facilitating them in casting their votes with ease.
Praveen expressed that strict instructions had been issued to all the election officials concerned to identify the PwDs who have been enrolled and yet to be enrolled during the Special Summary Revision, 2022.
He added that any eligible voter can easily monitor their applications through the reference number provided. Period of filing claims and objections is from November 1 to 31.
Deputy commissioner, Imphal East Kh Diana Devi said that efforts are on for ensuring inclusive and accessible elections.
She said that certain plans are being undertaken to man the polling station totally by the PwDs in the upcoming election as done in the past election.
The awareness programme was attended by director, Social Welfare department Ng Uttam; joint CEO, Md S Daulat Khan; nodal officer, Swami Vivekanand National Institute of Rehabilitation Training and Research, Cuttack, Odisha A N Nanda, officials concerned and beneficiaries.
Assessment-cum-distribution camp of aids and assistive devices for PwDs and registration of UDID for PwDs was also held.
