I am hearing-disabled and work in a nationalised bank in Bangalore. Preparations for the general election are on in full swing with field officers close to finalising the list of personnel to be on duty primarily as polling and counting staff. In this connection, the Chief Commissioner of Disabilities, Government of India, has requested the Election Commission to exempt disabled persons from being deployed for election-related duties. Persons with disabilities have been defined under the Persons with Disabilities (Equal Opportunities Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act. The Commission has desired that, as far as possible, persons with disabilities as defined under the Act should not be sent for election duty. But this was violated when a number of disabled persons were put on duty in the last Assembly election. This letter is an appeal to the Election Commission of India, public sector undertakings and organisations where people with disabilities are employed, to be aware of such an exemption granted, and avoid confusion during polling and counting.
S. Srinivasa Prasad,
Bangalore
