The Chief Electoral Officer Nagaland, V. Shashank Shekhar, IAS along with officers of CEO’s Office held a meeting of the State Steering Committee on Accessible Election (SSCAE) on 9th January 2023 at the CEO’s Office to deliberate issues on accessible elections with regard to forthcoming General Election to Nagaland Legislative Assembly, 2023. The Steering Committee was chaired by CEO, Nagaland.

In the meeting, some of the important issues discussed were PwD mapping and enrolment of voters, free transportation, polling station infrastructures (like location of the polling station on the ground floor/providing ramps/wheelchairs/volunteers for PwDs and senior citizens on the polling day), preparation of pictorial representation through posters and videos and sign language interpreters, appointment of Accessible Observers, IT infrastructure and accessible communication, training and sensitization of polling personnel for facilitation of PwDs and senior citizens, coordination and partnership with CSOs/NGOs, home voting facilities and helpline facilities for PwDs and senior citizens.

The State Steering Committee on Accessible Election (SSCAE) Members who attended the meeting were Dr. E. Motsuthung Patton, Additional Director, Health & Family Welfare, Diethono Nakhro, State Commissioner for PwDs, Dr. Nitovi Shikhu, Deputy Director, Health & Family Welfare, Temsunaro Aier, Mission Director, Samagra Shiksha, School Education, Dr. Chumbeni Kikon, Joint Mission Director, Samagra Shiksha, School Education, Lanusenla Lemtur, Coordinator, Samagra Shiksha, Tongpang L. Jamir, Nagaland Parents Association for Disabled and Venedulu Vero, Research Officer, Social Welfare.

(DIPR)