To fulfill the motto of Election Commission of India “NO VOTERS TO BE LEFT BEHIND”, the Chief Electoral Officer, Telangana has initiated a number of measures such as such as free Transport, setting up of all Poll stations at Ground Floor with ramps,EPIC & Ballot paper in Braille, signages, parking slot exclusively for PwDs, wheel chair with trained volunteers to enable the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) cast their vote without any hindrance
To create awarenes on importance of Voting and arrangement of above facilities to Persons with Disabilities, an awareness Walk is organised at People’s Plaza Necklace Road on 31.03.2019 at 7.30 A.M with around 2500 various catagories of Disabilities, NGOs Working for the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, PwD Activitists, State PwD Icons.
The following Government officials participated in the Awareness walk and conveyed their motivational brief message on importance of voting in the democracy and appealed all the persons with disabilities to utilise the facilities provided by the Election Commission and the voting percentage of persons with disabilities which was 70% in the recently held Telangana Legislative Assembly Elections shall be increased to 100%.
1) Dr.Rajat Kumar, CEO Telangana,
2) Anjani Kumar, IPS Commissioner of Police Hyderabad,
3) Mahesh Bhagwat, IPS Commissioner of Police Rachakonda
4) K.Manicka Raj, IAS District Collector & Magistrate Hyderabad,
4) K.Amrapali, IAS, Joint CEO, Telangana,
5) Hari Chandana IAS, Zonal Commissioner, GHMC,
6 T. Ravi Kiran IFS Joint CEO
6) B.Shailaja, Director, WD&SC & State Nodal Officer for PwDs
Special Invitees
7) Mithali Raj, Captain, Indian Women Cricket Team
8) Ananth Sri Ram Lyricist
9) Rajashree Reddy T.V.Actress
State Persons with Disabilities ICONs
10) Mahendra Viashnav, Blind International Cricket Player,
11) Shreya Kanthi Visualluly Impaired Singer,
12) Abhinaya Hearing Impaird Film Actor
13) Ms.B.Sujatha T.V.Anchor
14) B.Narsing Rao Barrier Free Campaigner
Dr. Rajath Kumar in his address informed that all the facilities arranged in the previous elections such as Free Transport, Wheel Chair with volunteers, Braille EPIC etc, is going to be extended to all the PwD voters in forth coming LokSabha Elections with greater improvisation and fervour. Beside this he has also informed that an exclusive mobile APP is developed with option of online booking facility of Wheel Chairs. He has once again appealed all the PwD Voters to come forward to vote to strenghten democracy.
All the participants had taken oath that they will exercise their right to vote with all fairness and Awareness Walk was flagged off after the release of balloons.
The Persons with Disabilities expressed their satisfaction on the facilities provided by Election Commission to them and assured that they will exercise right to vote in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections
