TURA: In keeping with needs of the electoral franchise, polling stations in Garo Hills are being modeled to enable the ‘special’ electorate to cast their vote and West Garo Hills district is leading the way.
The challenged voters, be they physically challenged, visually impaired, cerebral palsied will get to cast their precious vote in polling stations designed to facilitate them.
Two polling stations in the plains belt region of the district have been earmarked specially for the challenged voters for the upcoming February 27th state elections.
The two model stations for People with Disabilities (PWDs) are being set up at Shyamnagar and Bhaitbari polling stations.
“This is being done as part of ‘Accessible Election’ which is to ensure inclusive elections for every eligible voter,” said West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh.
According to the deputy commissioner, there are over five thousand persons with disabilities in the district. However, only a 155 of them are registered as voters.
“Although this is a small beginning we are hoping to gradually set up more of such polling stations in other constituencies,” a confident Ram Singh said on the sidelines of a National Voters Day programme at the Montfort Centre of Education school on Thursday.
He added that in every polling station in the district special volunteers would be posted to facilitate the PWD voters during voting day.
The district administration together with the Montfort centre, which is the only institution that imparts education for children with special needs, organized a programme for children and adults to create awareness about accessible voting.
Twenty year old Sengri Ch Marak of Chokchokia village in Rajabala constituency is ecstatic about the coming elections. Visually impaired, this is the first time she will be casting her vote.
“Because we were poor and did not have the means my family use to discourage me from getting myself registered as a voter. This time I took it as a challenge and got my name registered in the voters list. I am overjoyed because I also want to play a role in the development of my village by casting my vote and electing our leader,” says Sengri Marak as she highlights the difficulties faced in her area due to bad roads and broken bridges.
For elderly voter Rohim Hajong of Batua village in Dalu Constituency and Amir Hussain of New Bhaitbari, elections are all about ensuring development comes to their region.
“I believe my vote is valuable because it will also count in the development of our state,” says visually impaired Rohim Hajong.
Amir Hussain who became locomotive impaired after losing the ability to walk following a soccer injury during his teens says elections are always important.
“No matter what people must vote. It is our democratic right,” says Hussain as he looks forward to casting his ballot on February 27th.
