Hyderabad: M. Dana Kishore, DEO and GHMC Commissioner, has said the GHMC was making all elaborate arrangements for the disabled persons to cast their votes without any inconvenience and planning to increase voting percentage in the ensuing elections for which awareness campaigns are being taken up on priority to create awareness about modernized electronic voting machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trials (VVPATs) at community halls, parks and important public places to educate them.
The DEO said as per the available records, there are around 29,000 disabled pensioners in the State and directions have been given to the EROs and other officials concerned to thoroughly verify and enroll their names in the electoral rolls by visiting their houses. Certain instructions have also been given to the EROs to ensure that the names of the disabled persons figure in the electoral rolls at the nearest polling stations of their residences, he said. The GHMC was providing free transportation, wheel chairs, ramps, toilets for women, helpers/escorts, basic minimum facilities in all the polling stations to cast their votes in the first hour itself on the polling day.
Responding to suggestions made by the representatives of the Disabled Committee, the DEO said the points raised by them will be properly implemented well in advance of the commencement of the elections and further suggestions will also be welcomed, the DEO added. Publicity campaigns like TV scrolls, radio jingles, cinema slides and discussions with the Disabled Committee members live interaction in the TV channels to increase the voting percentage of the disabled persons, he added.
Dana Kishore, Harichandana, IAS, AC UCD, GHMC, Shailaja, Commissioner, Disabled Welfare Department along with representatives of Disabled Committee and the staff of UCD wing of GHMC held a review meeting at the GHMC Head Office today. Interacting with the officials and representatives, the DEO said 18,000 Swachh workers will be deployed as escorts/helpers in all the polling stations. A nodal officer will be appointed to look after the polling process of the Disabled Persons. The DEO also appealed to the representatives and the citizens to participate in the demonstration of EVMs and VVPATs at Indira Park on Monday at 3pm. (NSS)
