Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Maximum Participation Of PwD (Persons With Disabilities) Voters In Election Process To Be Ensured: District Election Officer

Ludhiana, May 9, 2019: To ensure maximum participation of PwD (persons with disabilities) voters in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the District Administration Ludhiana with support of several NGO’s, is making large scale efforts. Even a ‘PwD App’ has also been launched by the Election Commission of India to enable Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) to request for new registration, change in address, change in particulars and mark themselves as PwD through the use of the mobile application was also launched. By simply entering their contact details, the Booth Level Officer is assigned to provide a doorstep facility. PwDs can also request for a wheelchair during polling. International Cyclist Miss Shamli Sharma, who has won a gold medal at the recently held Special Olympics at Doha (Qatar), has already been appointed as “Icon” for district Ludhiana. District Election Officer-cum-Deputy Commissioner Ludhiana, Mr Pradeep Kumar Agrawal stated that a total of 5,708 PwD voters have been registered in the district Ludhiana. He said that efforts are being made to ensure maximum participation of these voters in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He also informed that for the benefit of these voters, special ballot papers and voter slips would be made and to make sure PwD voters do not face any problem to cast their vote, a special mobile application has also been developed, where the PwD voters would be able to apply for various facilities. He informed that for Ludhiana Parliamentary constituency, a total of 58 PwD voters have registered themselves in Ludhiana East constituency, 77 in Ludhiana South constituency, 160 in Atam Nagar constituency, 90 in Ludhiana Central, 206 in Ludhiana West, 235 in Ludhiana North, 588 in Gill, 223 in Dakha, and 171 PwD voters have registered themselves in Jagraon constituency. Mr Agrawal said that the district administration has already procured complete booth level data of all PwD voters, and volunteers would be deputed to assist them on polling day. He said that wheelchair facility would be provided free of cost to these voters, besides ramp, waiting area, help desk besides several other facilities would also be provided at all polling stations. He informed that the PwD voters would not have to wait in line to cast their vote as they would be given special treatment at the polling station. Mr Agrawal informed that visually impaired voters can also bring a helper with them to cast their vote. Mr Pradeep Kumar Agrawal said that India is the biggest democracy of the world, where every person has an equal right to vote. He urged all the voters to exercise their right to vote in a free and fair manner without any fear.