DIRECTORATE OF INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS, Government of Mizoram, India

262/2022-2023

Aizawl the 24th November, 2022 : The Mizoram Election Department organised a Special Enrolment Camp for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) Voters at the Assembly House Annexe Conference Hall, Aizawl yesterday, which was graced by the Mizoram PwD Commissioner Pi Vanlaldiki Sailo as Chief Guest. Mizoram Jt. Chief Electoral Officer Pu David L. Pachuau, Mizoram State SVEEP PwD Icon Asst. Prof. Lalbuatsaiha as well as Election department officials also attended the Special Camp and spoke on the importance of inclusivity of PwDs in the electoral process.

The inaugural session of the Special Enrolment Camp for PwDs was chaired by Asst. CEO Mizoram Pi Laldinfeli, where chief guest Mizoram PwD Commissioner Pi Vanlaldiki Sailo, on behalf of all the PwDs in the state, thanked the Election Department for organising the Special Camp. She said that the government and the people needed to be aware of ‘The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2016’ (RPwD Act 2016), which safeguarded the rights and welfare of PwDs and added that as the State Commissioner for PwDs, it was her duty to monitor and ensure that the Act was being executed in its right word and spirit. Pi Diki Sailo also suggested that printing the ‘PwD’ logo on their EPICs could help in identifying them and making their exercise of franchise easier.

Highlighting some of their achievements, the PwD Commissioner said that between 2nd February, 2021 and November 2022, District Level Committee on Disability had been formed in all districts under the chairmanship of their respective DCs. Between February - March, 2021 they visited 3 districts and apprised all the district officials regarding the RPwD Act 2016. However, as the Covid pandemic raged through the state from April 2021, they could not visit the other 7 districts but managed to collect all necesaary data of PwDs with the help of the DCs. Grievance Redressal Officers (GRO) had also been appointed in all government departments and colleges, and the first meeting of all GROs was held on 7th October, 2022. At the intitiative of the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, a Centre for Disabilities Studies had been established and was to function soon in the Mizoram University Campus, where Mizo scholars would now be able to easily pursue Diploma Courses in taking care of PwDs.

PwD Commissioner Pi Vanlaldiki Sailo also mentioned other achievements such as submitting of proposal for including PwDs more widely in various activities of the Sport & Youth Services Department, ensuring Reserved Seats for PwDs in the city buses Aizawl City Bus and providing low vision students at the Secondary and Elementary school levels with Large Print leh Braille textbooks through MBSE leh SCERT. Seventeen PwDs with low mobility, who use 2-wheelers on a daily basis, have also been exempted from the 'No Plying Day' with the permission of the SP Traffic. She also added that petition had been submitted to the Secretary, Health & Family Welfare that multi disability certificates under the Medical Board be issued more cautiously in order to avoid frauds. The PwD Commissioner also announced that for the first time, ‘Mizoram State Award for Empowerment of PwDs’ would be presented in December this year.

Mizoram Jt. CEO Pu David L. Pachuau, who also spoke on the occasion, thanked the PwDs for attendting the Camp and said that it was the goal of the Election Commission of India to make elections as inclusive, fair and clean as possible, giving special attention to the needs of senior citizens and PwD voters. The ECI had called a National Conference of SVEEP PwD Icons across the country on 4th November, in which the Mizoram State PwD Icon Asst. Prof. Lalbuatsaiha had also actively participated via video conferencing. Following up the ECI guidelines, ramps had been installed at every polling stations and wheelchairs alongwith volunteer aides for PwDs would also be provided wherever necessary. If requested, PwD voters would be fetched to cast their by appointed vehicles. The Jt. CEO stated that for the first time, Braille EPICs would be made for those with poor visibility, who should submit their applications for the same within this week. Pu David L. Pachuau also appealed to all the PwDs present at the Special Camp to cast their votes in the State Elections next year, saying that disability was not a big enough excuse to not fulfil their duty as good citizens. He also assured them that the Election Department would always be at hand should any of them need assistance in exercising their voting rights.

Addressing the attendees, Mizoram State SVEEP PwD Icon Asst. Prof. Lalbuatsaiha said that no provisions were ever made earlier for PwDs to cast votes, but following the United Nations Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities, 2006 and The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities Act, 2016, the government started to pay attention towards the frachise rights of PwDs and the Election Commission Of India has continued to ensure that all kinds of facilities were provided to PwDs, in order that they come and cast their votes too. The State Icon said that every Indian citizen from the age of 18 yrs onwards had one vote each, which was equally important and hence, PwDs should not shirk away from casting their votes and those who had attained the age of 18 years should enrol themselves in the electoral roll immediately.

In yesterday's Special Camp, Pi H. Vanlalruatfeli, Programmer Election Department, also gave a Voter Awareness Presentation.

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