Political promises
broken even before the election results
Yet another election and an all too
familiar aftertaste of rights being denied is how the May 10th
ended for people with disabilities in Banglore, as Karnataka went to
assembly poll without Braille-enabled voting machines and ramps at the
polling booths.
For the world’s largest democracy it
should be a rarity, but for these citizens of India exercising their
franchise has been a test of will and dignity, despite legislations and
directions from the Supreme Court of India, they have had to face numerous
barriers in casting votes.
“Less
than a month after the state chief electoral officer gave an assurance to
disability activists, there is no sign of Braille strips on voting machines
or ramps on the polling booths,”
says Paul Ramanath, secretary Karnataka Angavikalara Rajya Okkoota (KARO), a
state-level alliance of disability groups supported by ActionAid.
“Despite a standing directive from the
Supreme Court and a mandate from the Chief Election Commission, voters with
disabilities in Karnataka faced inaccessible polling booths and voting
machines sans Braille,” confirms Victor John Cordeiro, programme manager of
ActionAid’s Disability Unit.
Right to vote scuttled
“I had
to be lifted along with my wheelchair by no less than four people to get
across the steps at the entrance of the polling station. There was no ramp
as uausal,”
says Manjula, a wheelchair user who works with a leading international
Business Process Outsourcing company.
“It was a day full of expectations so far
as disabled people in the state are concerned, but when I went to vote I had
to seek assistance in climbing steep stairs to the polling booth,” says C.
Mahesh, also a wheelchair user, works for the Community Based Rehabilitation
Forum, as the Advocacy Coordinator in promoting the rights of persons with
disabilities.
Bangalore city witnessed one of the
lowest voter turnouts in its history. But for people with disabilities, the
zeal to exercise their franchise in these times of political apathy among
the electorate, turned into frustration.
“The
conditions at the polling stations were as usual inaccessible and
insensitive with no change. As a result of this hundreds of disabled voters
refused to vote and returned back to homes with anger and humiliation,”
adds a media statement by KRAO.
In 2004, the Supreme Court of India
issued a directive asking the election commission to take measures to allow
persons with disabilities cast their votes. The commission itself has since
sent out many notices to state election bodies to ensure implementation.
