Wheelchair crunch at polling stations irks voters in Thiruporur
CHENNAI: Elderly and persons with disabilities in Tiruporur were in for a rough ride on Thursday as several panchayat union schools and govt primary schools in the constituency had next to no wheelchairs.
A visit by TOI to Madayathur, Komanagar and Thaiyur villages in the constituency revealed that there was just one wheelchair each in at least six stations, four of which had more than 1,500 voters. Worse, several of them out of reach for PwD and far away from the entrance.
"I asked for a wheelchair for my mother. I had to wait for 15 minutes as there was a person waiting in line. The ramp was also very steep, resulting in an unpleasant experience," said Thirukumaran N of Thaiyur.
Election duty staff, however, downplayed the issue. "Many people don't prefer a wheelchair and only want assistance as they walk up to the booths. As for the accessibility issue, every station has 5-10 volunteers who will run to assist people in need," a staff said.
District election officer and collector S Malathi Helen said 1,300 wheelchairs were mobilized for 3,070 booths in the constituency. "Ideally every station should have at least two chairs. If there is a shortage, those on duty had been instructed to ask for more. I will check for such crunch and make necessary arrangements," she said.
A visit by TOI to Madayathur, Komanagar and Thaiyur villages in the constituency revealed that there was just one wheelchair each in at least six stations, four of which had more than 1,500 voters. Worse, several of them out of reach for PwD and far away from the entrance.
"I asked for a wheelchair for my mother. I had to wait for 15 minutes as there was a person waiting in line. The ramp was also very steep, resulting in an unpleasant experience," said Thirukumaran N of Thaiyur.
Election duty staff, however, downplayed the issue. "Many people don't prefer a wheelchair and only want assistance as they walk up to the booths. As for the accessibility issue, every station has 5-10 volunteers who will run to assist people in need," a staff said.
District election officer and collector S Malathi Helen said 1,300 wheelchairs were mobilized for 3,070 booths in the constituency. "Ideally every station should have at least two chairs. If there is a shortage, those on duty had been instructed to ask for more. I will check for such crunch and make necessary arrangements," she said.
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