Polling stations to be disabled-friendly : KATHMANDU

Voting in the November 19 election could be an easier job for the differently-abled people, thanks to an Election Commission plan in this regard that is almost complete.

For the first time in Nepal, the EC has identified 49 polling stations in Kathmandu, Siraha, Sarlahi, Banke, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Morang, Sindhuli, Baglung, Rupendehi, Parsa, Kaski, Dang, Jhapa and Dhankuta, and is working to equip them with disabled-friendly facilities.

“We have selected these districts that are very much accessible for the differently-abled. This is to encourage them to be part of the election,” EC spokesperson Bir Bahadur Rai said.

In identifying the polling stations, the EC took help from the National Federation of Disabled-Nepal (NFDN). “Work to make 46 polling stations disabled-friendly has completed so far, while finishing touches are being given in the stations in Kathmandu, Banke and Sarlahi,” Rai said.

As a differently-abled voter reaches a polling station, a helper will take him/her to the booth in a wheelchair, according to EC officials.

The EC has set up ramps for the wheelchairs. “We will also provide wheelchairs to the elderly and pregnant women,” Rai said. The EC has spent Rs 50,000-55,000 for every ramp for the wheelchairs.

According to Rai, this is just the beginning. “This is the first time in Nepal’s election history that the differently-able are being given such facilities in polling stations.

“We will equip all the polling stations across the country with these facilities in the future,” he said.

The NFDN claims that around 30 million people in the country are living with some kind of disability, of which over 90 percent lives below the poverty line. According to data available with the government, the differently-abled population comprises 1.94 percent of the country’s total population.



Source : E- Kantipur , 28th October 2013