Differently-abled remain a neglected lot
SHILLONG: While the State Election Department earlier asserted that ramps would be provided at every polling station to enable people with disabilities to vote in Saturday’s elections, the ramps were found to be absent from most polling stations in the city.
Scribes on Saturday visited several polling stations across the city but could not find a suitable ramp in any of those polling stations.
The polling stations visited include those at Rilbong LP School, Cantonment Board School as well as others in polling stations in Mawlai, Riatsamthiah, Lumparing, Nongmynsong and Jhalupara.
The lack of ramps contravenes a Supreme Court order that such a facility be provided at every polling station.
Irked by the lack of accessibility for the disabled, Sajjad M Ali, co-founder of Dwar Jingkyrmen, said that his daughter, who is wheelchair bound, was unable to cast her vote on Saturday as there was no ramp at the polling station located at St Anthony’s School in Laitumkhrah.
Ali has campaigned vigorously for the Apex Court’s order to be enforced and said he was “disgusted that the same thing happens again and again.” He added that he is contemplating whether to file an FIR concerning the matter.
Speaking more than a fortnight before the election, Chief Electoral Officer P Naik had said that the Election Commission aimed to provide all necessary help so that people with disabilities could exercise their franchise, even though he had maintained that it was up to the respective district election officials to install the ramps.