Disabled preparing their voter lists in Rajshahi
Speakers at a press conference held here yesterday said the disabled are now engaged in preparation of voter lists in Rajshahi City Corporation areas.
Action on Disability and Development (ADD), working with the disabled, in collaboration with Election Working Group (EWG), a network of 33 NGOs, organised the press conference at Rajshahi Public Library auditorium.
They said about 15 disabled persons are now conducting a survey at all the 30 wards of the city corporation to prepare separate lists for the disabled.
In many cases, they are going from door to door with the enumerators (data collectors).
On completion of the survey, they will hand over the lists to Rajshahi Election Office tomorrow, they said.
The conference stressed on enrolment of the disabled in the voter list for establishing their fundamental rights.
They also stressed on giving identity card to the disabled.
Referring to various aspects of voter ID cards in every sphere of life, they urged the Election Commission (EC) authorities to include the issue in the cards for their welfare.
'I along with an assistant am surveying every 10 alternative houses in a area and going door to door following information of neighbours of the disabled people', said Sheikh Abu Tarek Mukul, a visually impaired.
'Rich people are not willing to confess disabilities of their family members while poor section people seek monetary help from me', he said from his experience.
The disadvantaged group is implementing nine other programmes to help proper registration of the disabled.
The programmes include regular contacts and coordination with the district election office, assistant registration officers, supervisors, enumerators, data entry operators and election working group.
The programmes also include exchange of opinion with different NGO representatives and civil people, distribution of leaflets, announcement through loudspeakers, and publicity through roadside drama and promotional cultural activities.
ADD human rights officer Joy Chand Karmaker said his organisation inspired the disabled persons to conduct the survey following experience of Sripur Voter Listing Project in Gazipur.
Among others, Dr Zaharul Alam, director, Election Working Group, ADD human rights officer Joy Chand Karmaker and disabled persons Ahasan Habib Dollar, Firoza Akther Shima and Sarker Helaluzzaman addressed.
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