IMPHAL, April 9: The Handicapped Development Foundation Manipur have conducted a field survey to monitor the Accessibility of Electors with Disabilities in the outer Manipur Lok Sabha election on the eve the election on April 8 and on the day of election at Tamenglong and Thoubal districts, said a press release of the foundation.
The survey was also participated by the Handicapped People Front, Tamenglong.
It said the team visited Luangchum, Awangkhul, Tamenlong district, polling station no. 53/44; Rangkhung-1, Church area, polling station no. 53/33, Longmai-3, polling station nos. 54/2; 54/3; 54/4 and Tupul, polling station no. 54/9 all in the Tamenglong District. Also in the Thoubal District at Heirok polling station nos. 34/16; 34/17; Heirok-II, Mayai Leikai polling station no. 33/33; Heirok -III Mamang Leikai polling station no. 33/28; 33/27, it said.
During the survey in Tamenglong, the team found that only three polling stations viz. Church area, polling station no. 53/33, Longmai-3, Heirok -III Mamang Lelkai polling station no. 33/28; 33/27 had ramp facilities for the physically handicapped voters.
But unfortunately, the team could not see any arrangement for the accessibility in voting for the visually impaired and hearing impaired, it said.
The release further said that a multi disabled person, Tampi, 32 year old voter at Awangkhul, Tamenglong, was annoyed while casting her vote as she was wheelchair bound.
Another wheelchair bound, Elangbam Santosh, Heirok Mayai Leikai wished to cast vote however he annoyingly reported that he come to know through media that the ECI has assured to facilitate handicapped person in the polling station to cast their vote with dignity. But there was no such arrangement made, it said.
The monitoring team led by Dr Ch Rupachandra Singh – chairman, HD Foundation, Dr Sapam Jasowanta, secretary general HD Foundation, Ksh Subhrajit, advisor along with its members condemned such discrimination to the persons with disabilities of the state, it added.
The press release further appealed again to the Chief Electoral Officer to make accessible for the voters with disabilities with effect from the next election i.e. on April 17, 2014 in compliance to Supreme Court of India order and added the team will undergo such survey in future to make the rights of the persons with disabilities real.