CoSP Side Event Javed Political Participation

8/20/2019 CoSP Side Event Javed Political Participation

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Political Participation:Making Elections

Accessible in India Javed Abidi

Chairperson, Disabled People’sInternational

Email: chairperson.dpigmail.com


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General Election 2004

$th eneral (lection since the passage of the

isability ct of 1//.

isabled ights roup '+, a cross-disabilityalliance of disabled people’s organisations, 23s

and actiists wor!ing in the area of disability,

wrote to the (lection 4ommission urging them to

ma!e the polling booths accessible and remoing

impediments that people with disabilities face

while e5ercising their right to ote.


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National Convention on the Political Rights of Disabled People


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Protests outside Election Commission


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Building ramps outside the Election Commission


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ppeal to the President

also appealed to the then "resident, r. .".6. bdul alam

to facilitate smooth oting for the millions of disabled Indian

oters.

In a representation to the "resident, 6aed bidi, 4onenor,, said, 89ime is running out. :ith eery 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.;

document was presented to the (lection 4ommission outlining

the problems faced by disabled oters, and the solutions to them.


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Problem !" #ac$ of transport facilit% disenfranchises

millions of disabled voters

&olution" oernment to issue directie to public transport

such as buses to pay special attention to disabled oters,giing them enough time to board the buses and

disembar!ing as close to the polling booths as possible.

Problem 2" Barriers and barricades put up at the pollingbooths b% securit% agencies

&olution" (lection 4ommission to issue directie to allow

ehicles carrying disabled persons to go up to the polling

booths.


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Problem '" Polling booths themselves have steps that are

difficult to negotiate

&olution" "roide temporary wooden ramps at polling stations.

Problem 4" (isuall% impaired voters cannot cast their votein secrec% and have to ta$e the help of someone

&olution" "rint numbers in &raille and stic! them on the ()*s.

Problem )" *earing impaired voters are harassed becauseof their invisible disabilit%

&olution" (lection 4ommission to send a firm circular

sensiti=ing their staff about such oters.


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+eeting ,ith Election Commission


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+eeting ,ith Election Commission


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-oo little too late" Election Commission

Circular

.ast unto Death in protest


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.ast unto death


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Chief /ustice of ndia ta$es up the issue of accessible elections


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Chief /ustice of ndia ta$es up the issue of accessible elections


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&upreme Court passes interim order for accessible elections1 a first in ndias histor%3


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&upreme Court passes interim order for accessible elections1 a first in ndias histor%3

CoSP Side Event Javed Political Participation

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