Election Commission providing ballot papers in Braille

Chandigarh, Jan 24 (ANI): Visually challenged people will get an opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to vote as the Election Commission in Punjab has decided to provide them with ballot papers in Braille.

"The ballot paper for visually affected people has to be prepared which can be easily utilized by them to cast the vote in favour of the candidate belonging to a particular political party," said senior vice president cum in charge of an institute, Major General Rajendra Nath (retired).

Appreciating the initiative undertaken by the Government, Jagannath Jayara, a headmaster of the Institute for the Blind, said: "It's a very nice gesture on the part of government of Punjab that they are going to make available Braille ballot paper for the blind or visually challenged people."

"Number one, it will provide us independence and number two, it will enhance our confidence, dignity, self-esteem and we will enjoy the equal educational opportunity," Jayara added.

The election commission has taken upon itself to provide approximately 22,000 Braille ballot papers and they would be used at 19,800 polling stations in different parts of the state.

In a bid to speed up the process, an institute for blind has imported a machine from Sweden, costing rupees 1.5 million and specialized Braille translator software, known as Duxbury.

Punjab is one of five states due to hold elections this year. As per the schedule planned by Election Commission, the state assembly poll in Punjab would be held on January 30. (ANI)