Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Nov 21: “Vote With Pride”—the slogan of Election Commission of India (ECI) will be explicitly visible on ground especially in the tough terrain district of Doda when almost all the categories of special voters would be able to cast their franchise on November 25 with full pride.
This district has the unique distinction of having almost all the category of special voters, which are unheard in the electoral history of Jammu and Kashmir, like dwarf, deaf and dumb, visually impaired, physically handicapped besides large number of centenarians.
Some of these special category voters might have received the attention of the authorities concerned during the previous elections but it is for the first time that they have received the special focus, which will make them actually feel the slogan of Election Commission while exercising their democratic right.
These special category electorates would also encourage normal electorates to actively participate in the battle of ballots, which will subsequently lead to high percentage of voting, the prime objective of the Election Commission.
In order to facilitate these special category voters to have the feel of Election Commission of India slogan, the District Election Officer, Doda, Shyam Vinod Meena had to carry out two months long hectic exercise whereby special teams were constituted and deputed to identify the total number of all category of special voters.
Such a detailed exercise to translate ECI slogan into reality was never carried out in this district in the past elections and in the absence of special arrangements majority of these special voters were remaining deprived of becoming part of largest democratic exercise.
Following two-month long exercise, the District Election Officer worked out total number of all these categories of special voters. There are 15 dwarf voters in this mountainous district, who never received any special attention in the electoral history of Jammu and Kashmir. Belonging to Doda Assembly segment, the height of these dwarf voters is ranging between 2 feet to 3 feet and because of this they were either not coming forward to cast their votes or facing much difficulties in participating in the battle of ballots.
Similarly, there are more than 100 deaf and dumb voters, maximum belonging to Bhaderwah Assembly constituency and 28 in Dadkai, which is generally called deaf and dumb village. In order to work out special arrangements required to facilitate these voters to feel proud of while casting votes, District Election Officer personally visited the village in the recent past.
The district too have more than 80 blind voters residing in both the Assembly segments of Doda and Bhaderwah and more than 100 centenarians, who too came under the special focus of the District Election Officer.
Keeping in view the height of the dwarfs, which was measured by the special teams deputed to identify the number of such voters, the District Election Officer has got special stairs prepared by utilizing Red Cross funds. Now, on November 25, these special category voters would easily exercise their democratic right without the assistance of any body and by maintaining the secrecy of their votes.
For blind voters, the District Election authorities tried to make arrangements for Braille Electronic Voting Machines but failed in their efforts. Finally, the authorities have decided to enforce Rule 49-N of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961 whereby a companion will be allowed to accompany a blind elector to assist him/her to cast the vote.
For the electors with speech and hearing impairment similar care would be given for which explicit instructions have already been issued by the District Election Officer. Even sign language instructors have been arranged to facilitate the deaf and dumb voters in casting their votes.
As far as centenarians are concerned, the authorities have made all arrangements for their comfortable entry into the polling stations. They have also been roped in to encourage first time and other voters in their respective areas for participation in the battle of ballots.
Meanwhile, in its continuous efforts to create electoral awareness among the voters under the aegis of Systematic Voter’s Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) Programme, a voter awareness express, which will tour Bhaderwah, Ghat, Thathri, Gandoh, Marmat, Assar , Gundna and other parts of the district from November 21 to November 25 was today flagged off by special voters — two deaf and dumb voters, two dwarf voters, two blind voters, two physically handicapped voters, two oldest voters and two first time voters from DC Office Complex Doda.
These voters were specially invited by the District Election Officer for flagging off the Express and to develop a sense of pride and equality, besides creating awareness among the special voters.
The Express will spread the message of ethical and informed voting through posters, banners, invitation cards and audio messages comprising of vote appeals, ethical voting appeals and songs and jingles of ECI through loud speakers installed on the vehicle, besides an official is also deputed to redress any voting related query on spot.
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