Dimapur, April 25 (EMN): Taking forward the 2018 National Voter’s Day theme ‘Accessible Elections’, the chief election officer (CEO) Nagaland convened a state level consultative meeting on ‘Inclusion of persons with disability in electoral process’ for devising a comprehensive strategy for the PwDs at Hotel Japfu in Kohima on April 25. A DPIR report received here on Wednesday updated.
Chairing the meeting, CEO Nagaland Abhijit Sinha highlighted over the recently conducted election relating to PwDs. He said efforts were made for providing easy accessible for the PwDs, providing wheel chairs, temporary ramps etc. in selected locations, despite of the herculean challenge they faced progress were seen.
Stating that it is necessary to look at the consolidated picture of outcomes, good practices including innovations and technological support, the existing barriers and addressing those barriers, CEO said the consultation will start from the district level and consolidation will emerge as we move up to the national level, CEO said.
Sinha appreciated and acknowledged the district election officer of Wokha for initiating the first of its kind ‘polling station comprising 100% entirely of PwDs’ besides with some more innovative steps. However, he expressed regret over the outdated survey data of the number of PwDs enrolled till date which is very less for various reasons.
Our society at many levels side step PwDs for some reasons but he said ‘we still have a good time enough to utilize for the improvement of the PwDs.’
CEO urged departments, NGOs, stakeholders involved in PwDs to start revisiting, have intensive meetings and come up with innovative inputs and concrete points and propose their suggestions to the government.
Additional CEO, N Moa Aier elaborated on SVEEP and electoral participation. He said seven cases were categorized at the initial stage for the PwDs but now it has been considered and increased it to 21 categories. He also urged the PwDs to take active part in the electioneering process as they are fully associated and counted so that they can contribute a major role in the election process.
Deputy mission director of SSA, L Khukiye Sema highlighted some of the consolidated statement of schools with and without barrier free access under SSA. He said 2066 schools including higher secondary are availing facilities like ramps, water, toilet, electricity, etc. till date.
The state disability commissioner, Dr. Atha Vizol emphasized his views on the facilities provisions, aid and appliances, fund constraints, scholarships and monthly pensions for the PwDs. He said building by laws for the PwDs is yet to be completed in so many public sectors.
DEO Wokha, Manazir Jeelani Samoon shared his experience and presented a slide show on the last election manning the polling station and introducing the 100% PwDs polling station. With the motto ‘No voters to be left behind,’ in which all categories of voters have to be engaged in electoral participation. In this context, he said inclusion of person with disabilities is an important focus area.
Christina from Deaf Ministry spoke on the importance of sign language and explained the hardship face by them in communicating which turns out to be a major barrier for them to socialize.
State Icon for PwDs, Diethono Nakhro in her suggestion for better inclusion of persons with disabilities in electoral process, said CEO or DEO websites must strictly comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.0 – Level AA by the W3C; documents or circulars, audio visuals, apps, etc, concerning election or voter matters need to meet accessibility standards; voter facilitation centres need to be in accessible formats; assistants or scribes for filling up forms for persons with disabilities should also be considered; besides Braille script and sign language, multi-media accessible awareness material on election process needs to incorporate captions (text versions) as well according to Web accessibility guidelines; and more special camps must be held for enrolment and sensitisation of PwDs, training of all personnel involved in the process needs to be stepped up.
She also recommended that there should be better collaboration with non-partisan disability experts; disabled people’s organisations, and NGOs and individuals in the disability sector for proper training of concerned personnel and to help with registration; voter ID cards must be issued in Braille for people who are blind or have low vision, engagement of dedicated teams of volunteers such as NCC, guides & scouts, youth organisations, etc. to assist voters with disability or senior citizens on polling day; and all manpower engaged in polling booths must be sensitised and trained on dealing with persons with disabilities and giving the right kind of assistance.
Nakhro also said that absentee voting or online voting is an option that needs to be considered and that election commission must make it mandatory for political parties to make their campaign materials and venues accessible - communication (websites, manifestos, all information and speeches), offices, meeting and rally venues, etc., allocation of separate budget for raising awareness on accessible electoral process, Penalisation of officials who do not follow accessibility guidelines must be considered.
After much deliberation points were noted for a fresh specific survey to identify and enroll the PwDs, extra posters and pamphlets for awareness, mapping of electoral roll for PwDs, emphasis on more workshops, special camps and trainings for both BLOs and PwDs, user friendly websites for the PwDs.
Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Dimapur has informed Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) that, aids and appliances will be distributed to them on April 30 and May 3. The updates informed that PwDs whose names were registered during the assessment camps from Oct. 31 2017- Nov. 3 2017 in Dimapur and Kohima can avail the items.
The aids and appliances will be distributed in Dimapur on April 30 at District Disability Rehabilitation Centre while in Kohima, the items will be distributed on May 3 at Government Higher Secondary School, Razukhrie. The timing for both the venues has been scheduled at 9 am.
