For the first time as many as eight specially-abled candidates are contesting the Assembly election 2019 in Jharkhand from the various assembly constituencies. In the last Assembly elections held in 2014 there was only one candidate from Dumka.
As per the statistics as of on November 11 the State has a total of about 2.87 Lakh differently abled voters and various steps have also been taken to ensure their participation in the voting process.
“I am contesting elections for the first time from the constituency of Barkagaon, Ramgarh under the flag of Rashtriya Jansambhavna Party. The government is trying to ensure that the differently abled take part in the voting process. But they should also have the right to contest the elections. For the nomination process, the election commission charges Rs 5,000 from the SC/ ST candidates while the specially-abled are charged Rs 10,000. Everywhere else when equal rights are provided then why are they charged more? Whether at the Central or the State level, no political party talks about them in their manifesto. I am contesting the elections to give a voice to the differently-abled and get them heard,” said Sunil Kumar.
Another candidate contesting the elections is Shamsher Alam Rahi from the Gomia Sssembly constituency. “I am contesting elections under the Janata Party. The specially-abled people generally go unheard and there is no one in the Assembly to represent them either. None of the political parties are concerned about the future of these people. As per the PWD Act of 2016, the differently-abled have not received their due till date. The people do not receive their monthly pension too on time which at times comes once in six months,” he said.
Rahi further stated that in the 19 years since Jharkhand was formed, no commission has been formed for the specially-abled. “Public transport systems too have no provision for such people while at least one seat in the first row in reserved for them in some states.
These are the main issues which need to be addressed at the earliest,” he said. Rahi is the National President of Rashtriya Divyanag Sangh and Secretary, DRD Foundation.
The other candidates are from Bermo, Jarmuindi, Tundi, Koderma, East Singbhum and one from Ramgarh.
“As per the Right to Persons with Disability Act, a person with any kind of disability has the right to contest elections. Irrespective of whether a person wins or loses the election, it has proved to be a very important factor in including the differently abled in the main stream,” said Rahul Mehta, Convener, Jharkhand Viklang Forum.
Arun Kumar Singh, President, Jharkhand Viklang Manch said, “A PIL was filed in 2009 at the Jharkhand High Court for ease of voting of the differently-abled voters for which the judgment was in our favour.
