KOLHAPUR: All the polling booths in the district have been asked to provide proper and basic facilities for people with disabilities, said the district election office.Last week, Pune divisional deputy commissioner P B Patil instructed the officials involved in the election process to make sure all the polling booths have basic facilities for the convenience of the voters who have disabilities.Resident deputy collector Sanjay Shinde told TOI that there were around 113 polling booths which did not have ramps. "Such facilities are necessary for smooth conduct of the election process. We have asked the respective officials to look into the matter and install the basic infrastructure before the polls which has been scheduled on April 23," said Shinde.He added that all the polling booths would be equipped with facilities like drinking water, shed, toilet, ramp for the physically challenged voters and a standard voting compartment.According to Shinde, few NGOs would also be roped in on the day of voting which would assist the district administration in managing the queues outside the polling booths.Earlier, district collector and returning officer Daulat Desai had said, "In our recent findings, we have learnt that around 113 polling booths do not have the ramps in the district. These booths will soon be equipped with the said facility."He had further said, "We have also found out that there is no mobile connectivity at 48 booths. Steps are being taken to establish the mobile connectivity with the help of BSNL and other private mobile operators. There are around 61 booths where there is no internet connectivity. In such cases, police wireless or the satellite phones will be used."

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