Shillong, Feb 23: Jitendra Dkhar of Blind Lead Trust has criticised the state government for failing to provide braille ballots during the council polls held on February 21.
The post of Dkhar below
“I participated in the recent District Council election in Meghalaya with the best intentions. However, I faced a significant barrier as a visually impaired person. The District Council Administration (DCA) did not provide Braille ballots, making it extremely difficult to vote independently.
I believe this is a violation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, a national law that applies across the country, regardless of whether an area falls under the Sixth Schedule. While some say the Sixth Schedule doesn’t mandate Braille ballots, the RPWD Act ensures equal access to facilities at polling stations for all citizens.
Without proper accessibility, people with disabilities are effectively denied their right to participate in elections. I demand an explanation from the DCA and call for action to ensure this doesn’t happen again.
I’d appreciate any advice or ideas from my connections on how to address this issue”.
