The Hindu : New Delhi News : Abidi to fast unto death over EC `attitude'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 14, 2004

New Delhi

New Delhi

Abidi to fast unto death over EC `attitude'

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI, APRIL 13. Upset by "apathetic attitude'' of the Election Commission, representatives from various disability rights organisations today expressed their disappointment with the latest Election Commission circular dealing with facilities to be provided for the differently-abled voters. To express their dissatisfaction and to press their demands to make the upcoming Lok Sabha elections "disabled-friendly'', the convenor of the Disabled Rights Group, Javed Abidi, also announced his decision to undertake a "fast unto death'' starting this Wednesday.

Calling the April 7 circular by the Election Commissioner a "mockery'' of their cause, representatives from various organisations stated that it was insensitive. Though the circular does talk about provision of wooden ramps at polling booths "wherever possible'', activists at a Pess conference today said that it was too little and too late.

"We are sick and tired. There is nothing new in this circular. It is similar to the letter by the Commission in 1998. We had made an entire note on how to make the elections disabled-friendly where we had mentioned the needs of the sector. But they have not taken into account any of that,'' said Mr. Abidi. As for the new provision for erecting wooden ramps wherever possible, the provision meant nothing, he added. "We all know that words such as "wherever possible'', "shall'' "could'' give space for people to make excuses. No one is accountable to make the wooden ramps. Who do you think will make them? The first phase of elections is about to start within this week, let's see where all the ramps will come up,'' said Mr. Abidi.

The exclusion of special provisions for the visually impaired and those affected by leprosy has also come as a disappointment for the activists of the disability sector. "The Election Commission has said that anyone with visual impairment would be allowed to take an escort inside. But that is derogatory. Every visually impaired person should be allowed to vote in dignity and exercise the right of secret ballot. It was very easy for them to put Braille numbers on the Electronic Voting Machines. Also, for those affected by leprosy in addition to the social stigma, there is a problem when it comes to signing or putting their thumb impression. They are often sent away as their fingers have been eaten away because of the disease. But they have not even addressed both these issues,'' said Mr Abidi.

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