BY TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JULY 02, 2018: THE Election Commission of India (ECI) has organized a two-day 'National Consultation on Accessible Elections', here beginning from July 03, 2018.  It would be inaugurated by the Chief Election Commissioner Mr OP Rawat, in presence of the Election Commissioners Mr Sunil Arora and Mr Ashok Lavasa. The event is a part of the ECI's pursuit of its mission to ‘leave no voter behind,' with special focus on 'Persons with Disabilities'.

Moreover, a dedicated portal for the ECI's ‘Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation' (SVEEP) initiative would also be launched during the inauguration ceremony. The national consultation is set to see participation of the Chief Electoral Officers of all states, Civil Society Organizations working in the area of empowerment of the differently abled and senior officials of the Union Ministries of Social Justice & Empowerment, Information & Broadcasting, Electronics and Information Technology, Youth Affairs and Sports, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), Central Public Works Department and the National Literacy Mission Authority.

It may be noted that the national event is the culmination of a nearly three-month long series of district and state level consultations. Importantly, it is aimed at identifying the barriers or gaps in the inclusion of PwD's in the electoral process, to assess the existing accessibility initiatives and to find solutions for the challenges being faced by the persons with disabilities. The whole exercise seeks to enhance their participation in the forthcoming state and Lok Sabha elections.

The theme of includig persons with disabilities has been given a special focus in the ECI's Strategic Plan 2016-2025. Besides, “Accessible Elections” has been adopted as its central theme for this year's National Voters' Day celebrations. The 'National Consultation on Accessible Elections' would involve three technical sessions over the course of the two days. The best practices on ‘Accessible Elections' that were practiced in six states during their last Assembly Elections would be shared in the meeting. The national consultation meet is expected to contribute significantly to evolve a policy on 'Accessible Elections' that would help in making electoral processes more and more accessible in the ensuing elections.

The concluding session of the national consultation is to be held in the afternoon on July 04, 2018 and would also be graced by the CEC and the EC's.