April 22, 2019
On 23 April, voters in all two constituencies in Goa will head to the polling
booths to exercise their choice in the Lok Sabha elections. For the first
time, disabled voters in some parts of the state will be provided free
accessible transport from their homes to the polling booths and back.
The transport will be provided by the office of the Chief Electoral
Officer (CEO) Goa in partnership with EzyMov,
India’s first wheelchair accessible taxi service.
We are pleased to offer our wheelchair taxi service on election day for our
differently-abled brethren. I am sure this facility will encourage them to
exercise their franchise as a responsible and equal citizen of our country.
The areas we are covering are Panjim, Caranzalem and St Inez as we have
only a single vehicle there. The Goa CEO has made a list of registered
disabled voters, particularly para and quadriplegic voters, so we will be
strictly following the list given to us by the CEO Goa. – Bennett
D’Cunha, Co-founder, EzyMov
The facility will enable more voters to come out of their homes and cast
their votes, said Avelino de Sa, president,
Disability Rights Association of Goa (DRAG).
“Many people on wheelchairs are unable to come to polling booths as they
don’t have accessible vehicles or people to take them there. So, this
service will surely enable more voters to exercise their franchise”, said
de Sa. “Whether the facilities are accessible or not, disabled voters in
Goa always participate enthusiastically in the electoral process and this
service will enable them for sure”.
Vishant Nagvekar, disability rights activist, praised the
move as well. “It’s good initiative by the CEO Goa. Besides wheelchairs have
also been procured by them for accessibility of elderly citizens and disabled
people. I congratulate the CEO office for such arrangements”.
Booth level officers have a list of voters with disabilities ready and
between 50-65 completely immobile voters have been identified so far, adds
D’Cunha. The service is also available for elderly people and they can
contact their respective booth level officers or DRAG. Call this number of
the DRAG office for help if needed – 9971820420.
Meanwhile, in other news also from Goa, in a unique exercise in South Goa,
3,263 people with disabilities have been identified by district authorities
as “most valued voters” when they come to vote tomorrow, with provisions made
for ramp and wheelchair facilities at all the 810 polling stations across
South Goa to help people with locomotor disabilities. Speaking to the media,
South Goa Collector Ajit Roy said that two volunteers will
be stationed at every polling booth and in booths with no wheelchair ramps,
extra volunteers will be provided.
ALSO READ:People with disabilities must consider issues not propaganda – Dr
B S Patil & Monika S Kshatriya
Source: https://newzhook.com/story/22042
