Forget about manifesto, no political party talks about disabled people in their election campaigns. They know nothing about disabled people, their needs and requirements. This was what the differently- abled voters in the city had to say when Free Press sought their reaction on the elections.
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Excerpts:
SANTWANA ARAS, 34, chartered accountant
“Political parties do not give importance to us because they think that number of disabled electors is small. We are not on their agenda. We need better access to public buildings and facilities. We also need more reservations in government sector and educational facilities. I am a SVEEP icon but whenever I tell my disabled friends that they should vote, they say why they should take the trouble when the parties don’t care about them. As for me, I have been voting since I was 18 – whether it is municipal elections or assembly or parliamentary polls.”
KAMAL BHAMORE, 24, student
“Whether it is BJP, the Congress or any other party – none talk about people with disabilities in their public meetings and other events. So, how can we expect them to make promises for our welfare in their manifestoes? The parties are not even aware of our needs. They feel that disabled people are dependent on others and so are unlikely to vote. Unless the political parties pay attention to us, how can we expect the common people to know our needs and aspirations?”
RAMSWAROOP AHIRWAR, 34, physiotherapist
“For political parties, we don’t seem to exist. A small number of jobs are reserved for us but we do need assistance in acquiring the minimum qualifications needed to apply for the jobs. Also, the process of application is very long and tedious. We have to run from pillar to post to get innumerable number of forms and certificates signed by different authorities.”
Mohammed Kamran Sehgal, 29, technical support analyser
“Politicians are businessmen. They focus on areas and people who can benefit them. Till five years back, no political party used to pay attention to us. But now things seem to have changed for the better. The parties have come to realise that number of physically challenged people is quite large and their votes do count. And that is why political parties are trying to woo us. But we still have a long way to go.”
