Bhubaneswar: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is committed to building an equal access framework for Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) supported by the fundamentals of responsiveness, respect and dignity to enhance elector confidence among them; and support initiatives for improved service offerings and enhancing their electoral participation.
In this light, a sensitization meeting was organized by the Election Commission of India through video conferencing where the poll preparedness to increase the voting percentage of the (PwDs) and aged voters was reviewed.
According to the data provided by the office of the CEO, Odisha, there were 4, 57,827 PwD electors present in the Final Electoral Roll, 2024 published on 05.01.2024. Now, there are 5, 16,330 PwD Electors present in the E-Roll marking a rise of 12% rise in the enrolment of PwD electors.
Further, instruction has also been issued to all the districts to take special measures for the identification and enrolment of all eligible PwD voters in the E-Roll.
Polling station Infrastructure: All 37,809 polling stations are situated on the ground floors to facilitate voting for the aged and PwDs electors. Permanent ramps not exceeding a gradient of 1:12 have been provided at polling stations. Wide publicity will be given about the provisions of ramps for the polling stations.
The arrangement of separate queues for PwD and Senior Citizen voters polling stations will be ensured and priority will be given to PwDs for entering the polling stations without having to wait in the queue. Chairs will be placed as per requirements at the polling stations for the ease of voters.
As many as 39,999 wheelchairs have been arranged for the 37,809 booths in the state. Out of this, 14,054 wheelchairs have been sent to the districts so far and the remaining wheelchairs will be sent by March 30. A helpline will also work at the district level to resolve the various complaints of the PwDs and elderly voters.
The Election Commission of India has instructed to make all arrangements so that there are no obstacles for the PwDs and elderly voters to come to the polling station.
Training for District Level Police Officers for simultaneous General Election – 2024: For ensuring a free and fair election process in the state a two-day training programme was organized for the District Level Police Officers by the Chief Electoral Officer at the Biju Patnaik State Police Academy.
The District Level Senior Police Officers were trained as “District Level Master Trainers in Election Management”. They received detailed training about the challenges related to the free and fair conduct of the upcoming simultaneous General Election – 2024 and they were asked to penetrate the training process to every police personnel being deployed at the district level for the election process as the Master Trainers.
The CEO is preparing for the smooth passage of the election process from every angle and readying the poll personnel for every challenge.
