Pingalwara’s first-time voters seek better future

Neha Saini

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 20

Like every first-time voter, the wards of Pingalwara home for special children and other inmates were excited to get inked, to push the button on EVMs that they had heard about during voter awareness sessions, to be part of the electoral mandate. The only thing separating them probably was their aspirations. “Most people, youngsters vote for development. But we voted for our right to equal opportunity,” said Zulfikar, who comes under PWD category. He was joined by his fellow inmates, Daljit and Pooja, both suffering from hearing disability, who had come along with their Pingalwara family heartily to cast their vote at the Manawala polling booth. Daljit, a first time voter, was just excited to get the appreciation certificate by poll officials and has kept it like a batch of honour.

Following a tradition of sorts, the Pingalwara inmates all travel together to cast their votes. “It was really great to experience the power of a vote and getting appreciated for it by the authorities was an encouragement. Our vote was for better opportunities for us, something that we can build our future on,” said 18 year old Jaspreet, a ward of Pingalwara. Interestingly, the first time voters from Pingalwara under normal category all were girls. “It was our duty to vote for change and we want that issues pertaining to people with disabilities too are given importance,” she added.

The Pingalwara escorted at least 50 students, all ward of Pingalwara to cast their votes, among them five first time voters. Most of the voters with disabilities were escorted by the staff of Pingalwara on wheelchairs. The non-profit organisation founded by Bhagat Puran Singh, has been adopting abandoned children, including the ones with disabilities, and supporting their education and imparting them vocational training.

According to Darshan Bawa, coordinator, Pingalwara, they had been hosting workshops for the children with disabilities, both MR and Physical, by the District Legal Services Authority, headed by District Sessions Judge, in order to ensure that a pension be fixed for the children for economic independence. “The policy matter is being worked upon under the guidelines set by Social Welfare Department and it would mean a lot for these kids if the pension is fixed. Since, the priorities of children suffering from disabilities remain employment and financial independence. The first timers from our family at Pingalwara were quite motivated to be part of the mandate,” said Darshan Bawa, coordinator, Pingalwara.