Disability Alliance not happy with facilities at booths
Most of the buildings were earlier disabled friendly without ramps.
Chennai: Members of Disability Alliance India on Saturday inspected polling booths in RK Nagar and expressed dissatisfaction over drinking water, toilet and ramp facilities provided in schools converted as polling booths.
The teams led by the members of Disability Rights Alliance India (DRAI) visited all corporation schools and government buildings converted as polling stations.
Most of the buildings were earlier disabled friendly without ramps. The situation has now improved but still toilet facilities have to be improved and the ramps are steep in wards like 39 and 42 of R K agar, said Ms Smita, a member of DRAI. “Our alliance has been assessing the amenities that have to be improvised in coordination with the Election Commission of India. We would submit a report to the city corporation seeking improvements and the corporation engineers have agreed to make the changes recommended,” she added.
Election Commission always says it wants to provide every facility for the disabled to vote. “Even those prime facilities that they provide are not good enough.
They just want to show that they are doing something for the disabled. Practically speaking, they do not put in much effort to ensure the same. Even the basic wheelchairs that they provide are not compatible for all disabled persons,” said Gnana Bharathi, President, Spinal Injured Persons Association (SIPA).