Wheelchair facility for physically-challenged

Eluru: For the convenience of 44,000 differently-abled persons in the district, wheelchairs are being arranged at the polling stations on April 11, said Joint Collector M Venugopal Reddy. He inspected wheelchairs being procured to meet the requirement at Differently-abled boy's hostel here on Saturday night.

He said out of 44,000 differently-abled, about 30,000 physically challenged persons need wheelchairs to exercise their franchise. They have ordered for 1,688 wheelchairs through panchayats and about 1,000 wheelchairs reached the district headquarters in the first phase.

Arrangements are being made for sending them to constituencies concerned. Wheelchairs are available at differently-abled offices, hospitals and other places in Eluru and other towns have been used for the purpose.

Not only physically challenged but also aged persons who cannot walk will also be provided with wheelchair facility while exercising their franchise. Ramps are being arranged in all polling stations for the benefit of the physically-challenged. Similarly, Braille ballot is provided to the blind persons before casting their vote, he said.