Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Making Elections
Accessible in India
Javed Abidi
Chairperson, Disabled Peoples
International
Email: chairperson.dpi@gmail.com
Beginning
India is the worlds largest democracy and home to an
estimated 70-100 million people with disabilities or at least
7% of the countrys population.
Yet, in a country whose political system is largely swayed by
vote banks, disability was and continues to be a low priority
for politicians and political parties.
Prior to 2004, the election process itself was inaccessible:
the polling booths were at inaccessible venues, the ballot
papers were not in Braille and the electronic voting
machines (EVMs) did not have a Braille strip.
DRG also appealed to the then President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
to facilitate smooth voting for the millions of disabled Indian
voters.
In a representation to the President, Javed Abidi, Convenor,
DRG, said, "Time is running out. With every passing day, it will
become that much more difficult for the nation to ensure that
disabled people were not discriminated against in this election
also.
A document was presented to the Election Commission outlining
the problems faced by disabled voters, and the solutions to them.
Supreme Court passes interim order for accessible elections, a first in Indias history!
Supreme Court passes interim order for accessible elections, a first in Indias history!
Supreme Court passes interim order for accessible elections, a first in Indias history!