Some young PwD voters could not vote

Jalandhar, May 20

Priyanka (19), Gitesh (20) and Ryan (20) are some of the differently abled voters who were excited to cast their votes for the first time in the LS poll yesterday.

They had been telling people, giving interviews and were sharing their happiness that they were going to vote for the first time, but even after applying for voter identity cards and submitting all documents for the same, the district icon for PwD voters, Vivek Joshi, said the voter ID cards could not be made.

Joshi said a day before the poll, they got to know that their voter ID cards had not prepared. While Priyanka is visually impaired, Ryan is suffering from intellectual disability. Pictures of the voters were also got clicked when they had gone to apply for the voter ID cards. The district icon said these youngsters had visited the place where the voter cards were being made but their dreams were shattered after they fail to receive them. Their pictures were also clicked after they gathered at a special event for the PwD voters.

“Earlier, they were too elated when they had gone with me, they were not able to hide their happiness. I got complaints regarding the cards. However, nothing could have been done,” said Joshi. The administration had claimed that special provisions of wheelchairs, ramps and other facilities would also be ensured at all 1,863 booths during the polling on May 19 for the PWD voters. — TNS