-----Original Message----- From: Mahesh Chandrasekar [mailto:advocacy.cbrfo...@gmail.com] Sent: Saturday, March 14, 2009 12:29 PM To: CBR Forum: Admin Subject: Disability and elections Dear Friends, My email on the "Right to Vote: Election & Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities" dated 12th Mar 09 has generated a lot of interest and there is an article on today's Deccan Herald titled - "Disability and Election". The article follows this email. This article covers many of the issues and you could use this to generate greater awareness/ discussions and the same could be translated into regional languages. In the times of fractured mandates and coalition politics, the votes of persons with disabilities and their families could make the difference.... Amongst other demands, it is time that we demand political party/ candidate to include the concerns of persons with disabilities and their families and vote for the political party/ candidate who are committed to promoting the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities as equals. Warm regards Mahesh Viewpoint Disability and elections By L Subramani Source: Deccan Herald, 14th Mar 2009 http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Mar142009/panorama20090313123861.asp Figures from the 11th Five Year Plan suggest that India has roughly five to six per cent of persons with disability amongst its total population.
For persons with disability, this year's general elections is a significant one. In 2004, just after the previous elections, the nation's highest judicial authority has given a judgement directing the Election Commission to ensure all polling stations are accessible to persons with disability. The judgement provides a strong platform for persons with disability to organise themselves and participate in elections 2009. Activists say this is vital, given that issues concerning disabled persons are often ignored and the community at large could not make an impact without exercising their power to have a say in the forthcoming elections. Figures from the 11th Five Year Plan suggest that India has roughly five to six per cent of persons with disability amongst its total population. Yet, several of the policies and welfare measures announced by the government barely refer to them. The recent state government budget is a good example, as it makes virtually no reference to disability. In 2003, Bangalore city authorities brought out their (revised) building bylaws which again had no mention of accessibility features; reminders that it would be difficult for persons with disability to influence policies without presenting themselves as a reliable segment amongst the voters. And the signs for organising themselves at the election year looks brighter. The election commissioner of Andhra Pradesh recently announced that steps will be taken in the state to make polling booths accessible for persons with disability and there were also reports that accessible EVMs (electronic voting machines) for easy use of visually challenged voters will be in place for this elections. Yet, activists point out that awareness amongst political parties and electoral authorities at the grassroots level remains abysmally low. Ever since India conducted the mammoth exercise of general elections for the first time in 1952, the machinery seems to have faltered in two aspects. Despite the constitutional guarantee that all Indian citizens are eligible to vote, no clear attempts were made to make voting accessible for persons with disability. Nor were there any concerted efforts by political parties to woo disabled voters. Candidates and political parties can take a leaf out of Barack Obama's election campaign in the US, which had included issues affecting persons with disability and had won wider appreciation from the community across the globe. First step In Thiruvallur, a small district outside Chennai, persons of disability are persuading their MLA to help them set up a resource centre in their constituency, promising the support of about 900 disabled voters. The activists from the constituency say that they are close to getting an undertaking from him to that effect. And activists know well that replicating attempts like this across the country is bound to raise the stakes of persons with disability, since the fate of candidates are decided on smaller margins in certain constituencies. Voting is perhaps the most effective way persons with disability can contribute to the democratic process and they need support from electoral authorities. A recent statement by the Chief Election Commissioner mentioned that helicopters would be used, if necessary, to bring voters from remote areas to cast their ballots. He also said booths will be set up even if it would mean only one voter would vote in a locality. Facilitating participation of persons with disability in the electoral process would cost nothing; nor is it likely to be a logistical nightmare. But it is certain to give them the right to have their say in policies. -- C. Mahesh Advocacy Coordinator CBR Forum 14, CK Garden, St. Thomas Town Post Wheeler Road Extension Bangalore - 560 084 Tel - 080- 2549 7387 or 2549 7388 advocacy.cbrfo...@gmail.com ad...@cbrforum.in www.cbrforum.in <http://www.cbrforum.in/> "Human Rights refer not just to personal civil and political rights, but collective economic, social and cultural ones too - New Internationalist" "When Policies weaken, Rights must be strengthened" Email secured by TPML Raksha Checkpoint = To unsubscribe send a message to accessindia-requ...@accessindia.org.in with the subject unsubscribe. To change your subscription to digest mode or make any other changes, please visit the list home page at http://accessindia.org.in/mailman/listinfo/accessindia_accessindia.org.in
