With a view to ensure active participation of the Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the election process, the Deputy Commissioner cum District Election Officer, SAS Nagar has deputed Mr. Manish Kumar as icon of PWD and young Voters. Mr. Manish Kumar though differently abled but earned tremendous acclaim for his commendable work in social service for Serve Humanity, Serve God, Charitable trust.Disclosing this in a press communique Mrs Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer said that role icons encourage all Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to come forward and play constructive role in the election process. She said that special arrangements have been made to ensure that PWD Voters do not have to stand in the queue to cast their vote.Divulging the details Mrs. Sapra said that PWDs are being educated and encouraged by conducting mobile camps in the district. Similarly the support of institutions like N.S.S. and N.Y.K. is taken to educate the PWDs in this regard.
Likewise the help of the workers of NGOs, Community based organisations, organisations of PWDs and Resident Welfare Organisations is being taken to encourage the PWDs to participate in the election process. District Election Officer further said that officers/officials engaged in election process and Police Personnel are also being trained to sensitise them about special needs of the PWDs. Experts in gesticulation and Braille are also being put on duty. She said that to facilitate the visually impaired voters provisions has been made to give information through voice SMSs, such information includes registration of name as voter, polling station number, place of polling station, number in voter list etc. She said that it has been ensured that polling stations are set up on the ground floor with facility of ramp.''A dedicated mobile app to facilitate the PWDs have also been launched through which a PWD voter may get every type of help from the level of getting himself registered as voter to the process of casting vote. if a PWD voter required any kind of help for transport to cast vote he/she may ask for it through this app'', added Mrs. Sapra.