The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer Goa, in collaboration with Disability Alliance Inclusive Goa, organized an International Wheelchair Day cum Voter Awareness program on Ethical Voting at KTC bus stand, Margao today.
The Chief Electoral Officer, Shri Ramesh Verma IAS, briefed the participants about the significance of voting and the initiatives undertaken by the Office of CEO for the upcoming Parliamentary election. He encouraged employees with disabilities to actively participate in the election process by manning the booths and assured them of full support. Further, he announced an award for the best booth manned by a person with disabilities. All willing employees with disabilities who work at polling stations will be honored on the National Voters Day, he added.
Shri Taha Haaziq, State Icon for Persons with Disabilities, addressed the audience on Accessible Elections, while Mr. Niranjan Jadhav, a resource person, spoke about the freedom associated with using a wheelchair. He highlighted how wheelchairs can also serve as a means of livelihood and enable individuals with locomotor disabilities to cast their votes at polling stations, urging everyone to participate in the upcoming Parliamentary election.
Shri Sudesh Gaude, Assistant Professor in Psychiatric Social Work and Nodal Officer for Accessible Elections in his welcome speech, said that the International Wheelchair Day is being organized for the first time in Goa. The aim of the program is to raise awareness about ethical voting by utilizing wheelchairs as assistive devices for those in need.
Employees with disabilities who manned the booths were felicitated by the CEO.
Shri Vishant Nagvekar and Dr. Vithal Rane shared their experiences of working as Presiding officers at polling stations manned by Persons with Disabilities.
A practical demonstration illustrating the usage of EVMs was conducted during the occasion.
Smt Deepali Naik, Nodal Officer SVEEP South Goa, and Shri Patrick D’souza, President of Disability Alliance For Inclusive Goa (DAIG), were also in attendance.
