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In the next assembly elections all the polling stations in the state will have ‘disabled friendly facilities’ so as to ensure active and hassle free participations of physically challenged voters in the most important of democratic process.
While addressing the Voter’s Day programme on Tuesday as Chief Guest Chief Secretary Kumar Alok dwelt extensively on the participation of the young voters and the Divyangas in the election process to ensure that the political structures, policies and programmes were determined in way that would meet the aspirations and demands of the new generation- the youths -in the democratic polity of ours.
“There is a need to have special drive to include the youths in the electoral roll. They will live for longer period and as such the youths have to decide the new government. How and what kind of government they need, what kind of political structures they need , what kind of policies and programmes they need are to be determined by them. So youth participation in the elections is extremely important”, said the Chief Secretary adding that keeping all these in mind the elector’s age was made 18 years and above since mid -1980s in place of 21 years and above.
“In view of the Election Commission of India’s instructions in the state also in four different days the enrolment process would take place”, said the Chief Secretary.
Alok also expressed his satisfaction that the State Election department succeeded in including 41,000 youths in the voter list this year. This awareness campaign should be carried out all through the year and each and every one eligible should be enrolled and none left out.
The Chief Secretary pointed out that one of the most important things was inclusiveness, especially regarding to the physically challenged persons.
There are laws to ensure that physically challenged persons are supported by facilities to get equal opportunities and rights along with others in all sectors.
“The state government has also taken initiatives in all sectors for the persons with physical disability. A lot of things are going on to make the systems disable friendly”, Alok said adding that while a large number of polling stations were already made disabled friendly, in the assembly elections next year the CEO office would ensure that all the polling stations have fully disabled friendly facilities and for that whatever reforms etc required would be taken.
“For this necessary resources would be provided by the state government”, the Chief Secretary assured.
The Voter’s Day celebration was attended by CEO Kiran Gitte. The CEO gave details of the steps that were taken for ensuring free and fair elections in the state as well as the enrolment drive. Among others SEO ML Dey , District Magistrate D Bardhan, Para athlete Samir Barman and others. In the programme voter’s ID cards were distributed among the new voters.
