In adherence to the Election Commission’s motto, “No voter to be left behind”, all efforts are being made by the Hailakandi district administration to ensure that the differently-abled persons go to the booths to cast their votes in the Lok Sabha polls without any hassle.

The district administration, headed by deputy commissioner Keerthi Jalli, is mulling a series of friendly measures for “persons with disabilities”. As part of the initiative, the poll panel has focussed on identifying the problems, challenges and possible solutions to ensure their participation in the poll process.

A meeting was convened by Jalli with differently-abled persons of the district at the Nazrul Sadan auditorium on Sunday.

They pledged that they would vote and try their best to ensure that all of them exercise their right to franchise in the upcoming elections on April 18.

Under the Election Commission’s Strategic Plan 2016-2025, greater participation of persons with disabilities in the electoral process has been identified as one of the core objectives. According to the 2011 census, India has around 70 million differently-abled people.

The district administration is working hard to make Hailakandi the most “disabled-friendly” district. Arrangements are being made for providing them with wheelchairs.

Free pick-up and drop-off will be provided to the differently-abled voters from their residences to the polling stations and back.

The Election Commission, in its order, said: “Each and every person with disabilities should be tagged polling-station wise and he/she should be picked up from his/her residence and dropped back there after he/she has cast vote.”

Demonstrations are being given to the differently-abled voters to explain to them the uses of EVMs and VVPAT machines.

“Whatever the persons with disabilities need will be provided at the booths. Booth officers will assist them,” Jalli said.

He urged the first-time voters to act as “election ambassadors” by spreading awareness on the importance of voting. “Voting is our democratic right and we must assert our right,” the deputy commissioner said.