As the country gears up for the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections 2024, the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP) has raised concerns over the voting rights of persons with disabilities.
Through a series of consultations titled ‘Disabled People in Politics’ across India, NCPEDP is working to elucidate the key demands outlined in its recently launched Disability Manifesto. The organisation is urging political parties to take concrete steps to address the concerns raised by disabled people and ensure their inclusion in the electoral process.
One of the key issues raised during the consultations was the need for accessible polling booths. “Disabled voters must conduct audits of the polling booths when casting their votes. Recognizing these challenges is half the battle won,” said a representative from Shishu Sarothi.
Another major concern raised was the lack of a comprehensive plan to address the diverse needs of persons with disabilities during the election cycle. The participants emphasised the need for enhanced accessibility measures at polling stations, including sign language interpretation.
“It is imperative to ensure that the facilities and provisions by the Election Commission of India for persons with disabilities in the upcoming elections are adhered to so that they can seamlessly cast their votes,” said Arman Ali, Executive Director of NCPEDP.
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The NCPEDP has also demanded that political parties should take steps to promote voter education and awareness programmes tailored to persons with disabilities. This could include sign language interpretation.
The consultation also addressed the issue of queue management and other issues faced by disabled voters during the voting process. The participants made several recommendations to improve the overall voting experience of persons with disabilities and ensure their inclusion in the electoral process.
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