Disabled can’t be compelled to perform poll duty, says Namburajan

Chennai:

Differently abled people are being compelled to go on poll duty by regional electoral officials despite the guidelines of Election Commission of India not to do so, according to S Namburajan, state secretary, Tamilnadu Association for the Rights of All Types of Differently Abled and Caregivers (TARATDAC).

Namburajan told Express that despite a Election commission guideline not to compel the disabled people to go on poll duty, some officials are forcing the disabled people to go for election duty.

The association also put forth a case of a disabled person from Virudhnagar district who is being compelled to go on poll duty. “He is affected by polio and requires assistance. He has put forth a request to his higher officials but it was turned down,” he said.

Namburajan said that he has urged the chief electoral officer Praveen Kumar to look into the issue. He said this happens as the officials don’t have awareness about the guidelines and urged Kumar to sensitise the officials about it.

“Sometime the poll duty is assigned about 30 to 40 km away from their home town. With lack of disabled friendly infrastructure, the disabled people would be forced to depend on others for assistance,” said Namburajan.