For them, Tamil Nadu has become friendlier

CHENNAI: It is yet another first for Tamil Nadu. After being one of the first states, along with West Bengal, to deploy Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) with Braille lettering, the state has taken a step forward in the making the polls friendly for differently abled people.

Almost all of the 53,000 polling stations in Tamil Nadu now have newly constructed concrete ramps to enable differently abled voters to exercise their franchise without any problems.

India is home to at least 1.7 million differently abled persons; one in 10 of all handicapped persons in the world live in India. A substantial number, about 500,000 people, live in Tamil Nadu, which is going to polls on May 8.

Representing the needs of this large electorate, Disability Rights Group (DRG), a network of differently abled persons, had req uested the Election Commission to provide at least wooden ramps for the physically challenged, brightly-coloured sign boards and audio signals, both inside and outside the booths, for the hearing impaired, and EVMs with Braille letters and symbols for the visually impaired. 

“These facilities would help the differently abled to cast their vote independent of any assistance,” said their press release.

Former Election Commissioner TS Krishnamurthy told DNA: “Over the years there have been some changes made. The Election Commission is always on the lookout to fulfil voters’ needs.”

Meanwhile, differently abled voters are also proposing to ask for separate election booths and three per cent reservation of constituencies, just as there are reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.