Pune: About 2.24 lakh persons with disabilities (PwDs) in the state will be able to request for voters’ assistance in the form of wheelchairs and transportation to and from the polling booths this Lok Sabha election.This would be made possible through a special PwD cellphone application launched under the Election Commission of India’s accessible election drive. However, to turn the exercise into a fruitful initiative, the election officials should find volunteers on time, experts said.Disability rights activist Nilesh Singit told TOI while the application will benefit PwDs, the administration should have clear options in place for the beneficiaries. “For instance, if a person just demands a wheelchair, it should not be assumed that the person would not need transportation,” he said.The activist said the figure of 2.24 lakh was of January 31 and there were chances that it might have increased to somewhere around 3 lakh now. “There could be many migrant workers with disabilities who may have moved to the city after January,” he said.There were 37,324 visually impaired and 18,022 physically challenged voters in the state till January 31. In Pune, the PwD count stands at 16,000.Singit said the election officials have already roped in a NGO for the benefit of PwD voters. The service would be free for the PwD voters and the cost would be borne by the ECI, which would tie-up with NGOs as well as autorickshaw and taxi drivers. “While it is a completely voluntary service, the person has to register if s/he wants to avail of the service,” the officials said.

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