Barpeta (Assam): In a move to promote inclusive and accessible elections, the Barpeta District Administration has formally activated the District Monitoring Committee on Accessible Election.
The initiative aims to facilitate greater participation of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in the electoral process, aligning with the directives of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The committee was officially launched during a meeting held on Tuesday at the Deputy Commissioner’s Conference Hall, chaired by District Commissioner (in-charge) Diganta Baishya, ACS.
The session brought together officials from multiple government departments along with representatives from the PwD community.
In his address, DC (i/c) Baishya underscored the importance of inclusive policymaking and urged officials to give serious consideration to the insights and experiences shared by stakeholders. “The suggestions from members of the community must be implemented in both letter and spirit to create an equitable voting environment,” he said.
Under the ECI’s guidelines, the committee will now function as a permanent body with a mandate to conduct regular meetings, set clear objectives, and monitor the implementation of accessibility measures.
The agenda of the meeting focused on actionable steps to remove physical and systemic barriers in the voting process for individuals with disabilities.
Among the key discussion points were the provision of wheelchair-accessible polling stations, sensitization of polling staff, availability of Braille ballots, and transportation support for voters with mobility issues.
Officials emphasised the need for collaboration across departments to ensure that every eligible voter, regardless of ability, can exercise their democratic right with dignity, independence, and ease.
