No objection to assistance from PM, CM's relief fund: EC

CHANDIGARH: Election Commission of India today said it has no objection in the release of funds from Prime Minister's or Chief Minister's relief fund for the purpose of medical treatment of patients.

However, it said that it should be ensured that beneficiaries or patients are selected by the concerned government officials or head of the private hospitals.

According to a communique received from ECI, it has come to notice that medical assistance under PM's or CM's relief fund is released for treatment of patients in case of heart surgery, kidney transplantation, cancer etc which are time bound in nature and can't be postponed without endangering patient's health, a spokesman of Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, said here today.

Meanwhile, ECI has also directed to ensure special facilities to the differently abled electors during polling for general elections-2014.

It has directed that differently abled electors should be given priority for entering the polling station, without letting them wait in a queue.

All necessary assistance, as may be required, should also be provided to them, the spokesman said.

Facility should be provided for such electors to take their wheel-chairs inside the polling station, he said.

In the polling stations where permanent ramps have not been provided, temporary ramps should be provided for the purpose.

Besides this, the polling personnel should be specifically briefed about the provisions of Rule 49 N of the Conduct of Elections Rules, 1961, which provides for permitting a companion to a blind/infirm elector to assist him/her to cast the vote, if he/she so wishes.

It has also been directed that at training classes for polling personnel, they should be sensitised about special needs of the differently abled electors and for courteous behaviour towards them.

Electors with speech and hearing impairment should also be given special care, he added.