Poll authority reaches out to deaf, dumb voters in Doda

Doda: In a bid to reach out to all sections of the society and create voter awareness among them, the Election department on Monday held a special Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme at a remote hamlet of Doda district for deaf and dumb voters.

Located in the remote mountains of Doda district, Dhadkie village has as many as 87 deaf and dumb residents. The area falls under Bhaderwah constituency of Doda.

District officials, led by District Election Officer (DEO) S V Meena, trekked to the remote hamlet in Gandoh area and organised the SVEEP awareness camp.

At the camp, sign language teacher Jan Mohammad informed the deaf and dumb voters about the importance of voting. The authorities are trying to reach out to every section of the population and create voter awareness among them, Meena said.

In a bid to strike a chord with the villagers, Meena addressed the gathering in local Gojri language. He appealed to the villagers to cast their valuable votes in their respective polling stations on November 25.

The participants pledged to exercise their franchise in the upcoming elections.

The camp, which was organised in collaboration with the Rural Development Department, Social Welfare Department, Education and Revenue Department, witnessed the participation of a large number of voters, especially the differently able.

As many as 87 deaf and dumb people live in Dhadkie area which includes 28 registered voters, 57 below 18 years of age and two non-registered migrant voters.

District Social Welfare Officer Gias?ul-Haq, who is the master trainer, demonstrated the process of voting using EVMs which was translated in sign language.

Earlier, Chief Education Officer of Doda Ayaz Mughal apprised the participants about the importance of participation in the electoral process and appealed them to cast their vote in the coming assembly elections.