Seven per cent of the population is physically challenged and out of
this, nearly 3.5-4 per cent, who are eligible, want to participate in
the forthcoming election process. However, there is a big question mark
as far as their voting participation is concerned due to unfriendly
policies and inaccessible polling booths in many parts of the city and
state. If you have ever visited a voting booth anytime, you can see that
there is either no place to sit or even stand and for the disabled,
entering these places itself is a Herculean task and casting their votes
without assistance is another difficult task.
Elections are
around the corner and poll fever has already caught up with aspirants
and other sections of the people what with political parties burning the
midnight oil to finalise their list of candidates. With Bangalore and
rest of Karnataka witnessing a single day’s poll on the 5th of May,
hectic days are on the anvil with many citizens running from pillar to
post to get their voter ID card so as to exercise their franchise. But
what about the disabled?
Abhishek, who turned 18 this year, is
frantically trying to get a voter ID card but it is a big task for him
as he needs help to visit these centres. “With great difficulty and
aided by my friends, I visited the centre, but could not get my card
because of improper documentation. The centre had no ramp and I had to
stand in the hot sun, which for me was a tough proposition. As it is,
the authorities are least bothered about the rights of the disabled,” he
said.
Krishnamurthy, a bank employee rues the advent of the
polling day as it is a nightmare standing and waiting with no place to
sit or assistance to cast their votes. “It is a pain to even enter the
booths as there are are no ramps and for me, to climb the big steps is
pretty difficult. Some booths are located in hilly areas, some down in
the dump and some with no pathways and for the disabled, it is
impossible to cast their votes. There seems to be no concern or even
data available with the election authorities regarding the number of
disabled voters in a particular constituency.”
Sunil Jain cast his
vote in the 2008 elections successfully but only because he had
assistance and somebody who could lift his wheelchair and help him to
enter the polling booth. But the moot question here is : how many people
can afford assistance on their own?
Keeping in view, the
problems faced by people with disabilities, Sunil and his Astha
Foundation is hoping to bring awareness and launch a campaign for the
rights of the disabled so that they can take part in the election
process.
“It is important that this section of the population gets
all the support, logistical and otherwise, so that they exercise their
voting rights.
Through our campaign, we are also hoping to raise
awareness levels in all the eligible voters for casting their valuable
votes and also provide any kind of assistance they need,” he added.
While
people with disabilities too have the right to cast their votes, nobody
knows how much action has been taken to empower them to exercise their
choice.
The prevailing scenario in our country today is: These
people want to vote but they are not enrolled in any electoral rolls;
they are in the electoral list, but neither find any support nor
encouragement (infrastructure or otherwise) to participate in the
democratic process; they can go and vote, but they may think that it’s
not important; and further, some people do vote irrespective of
facilities or not .... they somehow find a way to take part in the
exercise.
“Astha’s aim is to make sure that the disabled community too votes.
After
all, even their vote counts and the state and central governments
should make efforts to make the voting process, whether Parliamentary or
assembly, disabled friendly,” said Sunil. He further added adds that
they are planning to meet the chief electoral officer of Karnataka and
the disability commissioner on the 10th of this month to seek their
involvement and support so as to empower maximum number of people with
disability and ultimately having the freedom to choose and exercise
their right to vote.
Source : newindianexpress , Bangalore : 2nd April 2013
