Separate queues for disabled, elderly people

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: For the first time, the election commission has asked chief electoral officers (CEOs) to use the

services

of volunteers from the National Cadet Corps (NCC), the

National Service Scheme

(NSS) and the Scouts and Guides to assist persons with disabilities (PwD) to reach polling stations and cast their votes.


The volunteers would manage voters queue and assist the persons with disabilities reach the polling stations. “The volunteers shall guide the PwD electors up to the entrance of the polling station. Inside the polling station, they shall be assisted by polling staff,” the commission said in its directive. The age of such volunteers should be less than 18 years. The commission has asked the CEOs to ensure that proper facilities are provided for them.

People with visual and locomotive disabilities will be provided with public transport for reaching the polling station, and if it is not available, the commission has asked the CEOs to hire private vehicles. Also, there will be a separate queue for PwD voters and senior citizens in the polling booths, in addition to the two queues for the male and female voters. At present, one male voter can vote after every two female voters. This time, the commission has said that preference will be given to senior citizens and PwD voters while voting.

The commission has already launched a mobile application for assisting PwD voters. They can request for a wheelchair and by entering their contact details.

The panel has instructed that there should be tented arrangement with shades at each polling station for women, senior citizens and PwD voters and the children accompanying them. The commission has also told polling officials to set up separate toilet facilities for men and women voters at the polling stations besides making crèche mandatory, where one trained attendant would be deployed for taking

care

of children.