Unlike last elections, the physically challenged (Divyang) people have suffered a great inconvenience this time in reaching out polling booths in the city on polling day as authorities have categorically ignored providing them the necessary transport facility which was made available during last election. This might have contributed into a significant drop in polling percentage as the disable people failed to reach out to concerned polling booths to cast their votes.
“I have reached the polling booth with utmost difficulty as there are no arrangements of transportation this time unlike last elections. For me it is quite painful to walk all the way to the polling booth with an auxiliary crutch beneath the armpit. However, somehow I managed to reach the polling station and casted my vote,” said exhausted Ghousia Begum, a resident of Gagan Pahad.
“I can’t move without an auxiliary crutch but toiled hard to reach the polling station and casted my vote despite having locomotive disability. Though the authorities showed some generosity last time by providing transportation facilities to people like me but this time the same is missing,” Moina Begum, a resident of Indra nagar, Hassannagar.
“A myriad number of disabled people refrain from casting their votes today as they have not been facilitated with transport facilities unlike last elections. As the disabled people are the primary beneficiaries of the government’s Aasra pension they themselves manage to reach the polling stations to cast their votes in the absence of transportation facilities. However, still there are a big number of disabled people who aren’t able to turn up till 5.00 pm,” Said Shaikh Mahboob, President Pattana Vikalangula Samakya Hyderabad.
Out of total 38,25,896 beneficiaries under Aasra pension scheme in the state, the number of Divyangs stand at 4,85,378 who are getting Rs.3016 as pension every month. The other beneficiaries of financial assistance under Aasra Scheme are Widows, Weavers, Toddy Tappers, HIV Patients, Filaria Patients, Beedi Workers, Single Women and Old Age persons.
