GUWAHATI, March 22 - The Kamrup Metro Election District has issued a series of �Do�s� and �Don�ts� to the election staff with regard to people with disabilities who come to exercise their franchise at polling stations located in the city during the forthcoming polls to the Assam Legislative Assembly.
Officials said that a series of training activities have been conducted to sensitise the personnel involved in election duty in this regard.
�There is a need to ensure that the polling personnel are specifically briefed about the provisions of Rule 49N of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961. Our effort is aimed at making sure that voters with disabilities are able to take part in the democratic exercise without any hindrance. The aim is to sensitise the booth level officers and volunteers about the special needs of the disabled, for courteous behaviour towards them and for providing necessary support to them at the polling station,� said an official.
Personnel, including officials and volunteers, have been instructed on basis features of the Rule 49N like permitting a companion to accompany a blind or infirm elector to assist him or her to cast the vote.
�In case of a visually impaired voter, if he or she does not know Braille, a family member or any other person of his choice may escort and assist him. Even the presiding officer of the polling station may assist him or her if the voter with disability wants. However, the presiding officer cannot influence his or her right of franchise,� said the official.
He added that the training of personnel engaged in poll duty has highlighted the �Do�s�, like the responsibility of officials and volunteers to always speak clearly and without any impatience or aggression and to address voters with disability with a proper �term of respect� for a stranger and to allow the persons accompanying such voters to cast their vote immediately after their companion.
They have also been instructed on various �Don�ts�. �The personnel should not ask voters to show their disability card or identify their impairment if they ask for support. The poll personnel have been directed not to address the persons concerned by their impairment or not to touch the persons without asking them whether they would require physical support and to what extent,� he said.
The Election District authorities are, in the meantime, examining the list of polling stations LAC-wise where there are registered voters with disabilities.
Officials said that the Election Commission of India guidelines in the matter are not only intended to enable people with disability to cast their votes, but also to make political parties think of more meaningful steps towards framing law and policy for effective inclusion of disabled people in the governance process.
As per the 2011 census, around 2.2 per cent of the country�s population have some or other form of disability.
The sensitisation drive comes close on the heels of the Kamrup Metro Election District announcing special arrangements for special categories of voters including the physically challenged, senior citizens and nursing and pregnant women to facilitate them to exercise their franchise.
There are four Legislative Assembly constituencies under the Kamrup Metro Election District � Jalukbari, Dispur, Guwahati East and Guwahati West. All the four constituencies will go to poll on April 11, along with other parts of Lower Assam.
GUWAHATI, March 22 - The Kamrup Metro Election District has issued a series of �Do�s� and �Don�ts� to the election staff with regard to people with disabilities who come to exercise their franchise at polling stations located in the city during the forthcoming polls to the Assam Legislative Assembly.
Officials said that a series of training activities have been conducted to sensitise the personnel involved in election duty in this regard.
�There is a need to ensure that the polling personnel are specifically briefed about the provisions of Rule 49N of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961. Our effort is aimed at making sure that voters with disabilities are able to take part in the democratic exercise without any hindrance. The aim is to sensitise the booth level officers and volunteers about the special needs of the disabled, for courteous behaviour towards them and for providing necessary support to them at the polling station,� said an official.
Personnel, including officials and volunteers, have been instructed on basis features of the Rule 49N like permitting a companion to accompany a blind or infirm elector to assist him or her to cast the vote.
�In case of a visually impaired voter, if he or she does not know Braille, a family member or any other person of his choice may escort and assist him. Even the presiding officer of the polling station may assist him or her if the voter with disability wants. However, the presiding officer cannot influence his or her right of franchise,� said the official.
He added that the training of personnel engaged in poll duty has highlighted the �Do�s�, like the responsibility of officials and volunteers to always speak clearly and without any impatience or aggression and to address voters with disability with a proper �term of respect� for a stranger and to allow the persons accompanying such voters to cast their vote immediately after their companion.
They have also been instructed on various �Don�ts�. �The personnel should not ask voters to show their disability card or identify their impairment if they ask for support. The poll personnel have been directed not to address the persons concerned by their impairment or not to touch the persons without asking them whether they would require physical support and to what extent,� he said.
The Election District authorities are, in the meantime, examining the list of polling stations LAC-wise where there are registered voters with disabilities.
Officials said that the Election Commission of India guidelines in the matter are not only intended to enable people with disability to cast their votes, but also to make political parties think of more meaningful steps towards framing law and policy for effective inclusion of disabled people in the governance process.
As per the 2011 census, around 2.2 per cent of the country�s population have some or other form of disability.
The sensitisation drive comes close on the heels of the Kamrup Metro Election District announcing special arrangements for special categories of voters including the physically challenged, senior citizens and nursing and pregnant women to facilitate them to exercise their franchise.
There are four Legislative Assembly constituencies under the Kamrup Metro Election District � Jalukbari, Dispur, Guwahati East and Guwahati West. All the four constituencies will go to poll on April 11, along with other parts of Lower Assam.
