Delhi Elections 2015: Disabled persons turn out in strength to cast vote

NEW DELHI: As Delhi voters made a beeline for polling stations today, differently-abled people, too, turned out in large numbers to exercise their franchise with Election Commission making special efforts to ensure that there were adequate facilities for them.

While wheelchairs and ramps at most of the polling booths aided these voters, there were, however, a few places where they complained of having inadequate facilities.

60-year-old Ram Lal, who came on a wheelchair escorted by a youth, flaunted his inked finger after casting his ballot at a polling station in Okhla.

"I want a party to come to power which increases facilities for disabled people like us," said Lal, whose lower body was paralysed 38 years back in an accident.

Said 87-year old Mohammed Taquil, who relies on a walking stick for moving about, "Arrangements at polling stations are quite good. I was exempted from standing in the queue and was also escorted to the booth by the officials."

However, one voter complained that she had to wait for a wheelchair to be brought in from another polling booth after she had asked for one at a polling booth in Shalimar Bagh.

Election Commission had arranged for around 400 wheelchairs for disabled persons while volunteers, too, were deployed at voter assistance booths to escort them.

Wheelchair-bound 82-year-old Jitender Singh was seen taking a selfie as he came out of a polling booth in the Vikaspuri area.

"Why should the youngsters have all the fun! Voting is not only trendy but very important to maintain the sanctity of our democratic system," Singh said.