Encouraged by the recognition it got after winning the national award for rehabilitating physically-challenged persons, the Cuttack district administration is planning to make all polling booths of the district disabled-friendly.
The 2,171 polling booths of the district would have ramp and wheelchair provisions to facilitate the persons with disabilities in exercising their franchise hassle-free during the general elections scheduled next year.
At a review meeting to strengthen the systematic of voters’ education and electoral participation (SVEEP) held here on Wednesday, the district authorities discussed measures to ensure better polling percentage in the district.
It was decided that booths registering poor percentage of polling would be identified and a systematic approach would be made at the block level to encourage people of these areas to exercise their franchise in large numbers. A voters’ awareness drive would be launched targeting young voters, particularly in the age group of 18-25, with more emphasis on first-time voters.
It may be mentioned that during the 2009 general elections, the Election Commission had directed to provide at least one wheelchair in each booth, but the direction was not carried out properly in rural areas.
Similarly, many schools, which serve as polling booths, do not have permanent ramps and, therefore, steps would be taken to set up temporary ramps to help persons with disabilities, the meeting decided.