[:en]60-year-old Premdas Prajapati, a prgana chakshu (blind) since very early infant age, is a champion of democracy in real sense with his deeper understanding to cast his vote to participate in the festival of democracy (elections) for the 17 th Lok Sabha to be held in Gujarat on April 23.
“Though I am blind, still, I have deeper understanding to value my vote in the democratic system. I firmly believe that not exercising your right to vote is a crime against the democratic system. In fact, it is our duty,” Mr. Prajapati told with heartening smile.
The election will be held in Gujarat in just single-phase on April 23. Ahmedabad District Collector and District Election Officer, Dr. Vikrant Pandey (IAS) is putting out his whole hearted efforts to ensure that entire electioneering procedures and casting of votes happen in peaceful and harmonious manner with maintaining of law and order situation in the entire Ahmedabad city and district.
Dr. Pandey disclosed that Ahmedabad district has in total 16,375 specially- abled voters. Of them, 2,579 voters are from Viramgam Assembly Constituency, 2,055 from Sanand, 600 from Ghatlodiya, 735 from Vejalpur, 494 Vatva, 297 Ellis Bridge, 353 Naranpura, 449 Nikol, 410 Naroda, 456 Thakkarbapanagar, 662 Bapunagar, 773 Amraiwadi, 349 Dariapur, 478 Jamalpur – Khadia, 693 Maninagar, 506 Danilimbda, 810 Sabarmati, 258 Asarva, 428 Daskroi, 1,315 Dholka, and 1,675 from Dhandhuka.
These voters included visually impaired, deaf and dumb, physically challenged, and blinds. He said, “We have made specially arrangements for the differently abled voters to ensure that none of them deprived off from exercising their right to cast the vote. For easy access to the polling booths, we have built either a ramp or have arranged wheel-chairs for them. For Ahmedabad city and district we have acquired approximately 450 wheel-chairs and nearly 1100 assistance for the purpose.”
Alpesh Chauhan, who is also differently abled and giving services as a Gruh-pati (Warden) at the ‘Apang Manav Mandal’ in Ahmedabad, lamented that many healthy people just enjoy voting-day as another holiday by watching entertainment on TV or indulging in other chores…and then debate for next five years that what and how the government should function. But, sad they refrained from exercising their franchise.
Similar higher spirit was expressed by 21-year-old midget Jaydeep, whose height is just 34 inches (2ft and 10 inches), and is studying in first year of Piprotar College. Jaydeep says, “Though I am midget in terms of height, my thinking and spirit is as high as of Hercules.”
Another 3-feet tall midget, Mr. Mandeep Gohil, a fashion designer instructor by profession, extol self with saying “I have never felt inferior due to my short height. I am voting in every election without fail.”
One more specially-abled Mr. Tulsibhai Bhoi expressed his gratitude towards the Election Commission for arranging wheel-chairs and other facilities for the voters like him.
These specially-abled votes united expressed that, “Though we are physically challenged, we are always ready to run as fast as we could.” Another differently abled youth said, “I don’t have hands but I am eager to press button on EVM to exercise my democratic rights.”[:]
