In a first-of-its-kind talk, the country’s newly-appointed Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat has spoken about the need to create facilities/arrangements for the differently-abled persons to enable them to contest polls.

Rawat’s significant comments were made while he was speaking at a conference yesterday in New Delhi which debated about the possibility of providing equal opportunities for the differently-abled to contest polls and the need to do it urgently.

“In these days, all sectors are registering tremendous growth thanks to the information technology revolution.  What we see today changes completely tomorrow and we have to keep pace with these changes. There are, however, people in society who are at a disadvantageous position. Invariably, we fail to think about them; this should not be the case in the days to come.

“In a democratic set-up like India, the differently-abled persons ought to have equal rights to contest polls and perform their democratic duties. This is, in fact, necessary for the development of the country. The Election Commission would provide all possible assistance, arrangements and facilities for the disabled persons to contest polls. Efforts by the establishments in this regard have to be since,” Rawat said.