GUWAHATI, March 19 - The district administration of Kamrup Metro, with support from Shisu Sarothi, an NGO working in the disability sector, organised a training on �Disability Inclusion� for the ensuing Assam Legislative Assembly elections at the Rabindra Bhawan here on Friday.
The training was organised in batches for booth level officers (BLOs) of three constituencies of the district � No. 52 Dispur, No. 53 Guwahati East and No. 54 Guwahati West.
Officials said the training programme was part of an endeavour to ensure inclusion of persons with disabilities.
The participants were informed about various provisions to be made available for disabled voters at the polling stations.
The BLOs present in the training were asked to ensure that all polling stations have accessible entrances with ramps, provide for seating arrangements for disabled voters as well as old and infirm people, pregnant women and lactating mothers, among others.
They were told to ensure that disabled voters and other enlisted categories of special voters are given priority and not made to wait in queue.
The participants were also apprised of Rule 49N of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, which provides for permitting a companion to accompany a blind or infirm elector to assist him or her to cast the vote. Other provisions of appropriate signages and reserved parking space for disabled voters were also discussed.
Arman Ali, executive director of Shisu Sarothi, was the resource person for the sessions. Dr M Angamuthu, Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer of Kamrup Metro Election District, presided over the initial session of the training.
