Mangaluru: There are 10,911 disabled persons in Dakshina Kannada district and the district administration will provide all facilities to them with ease of access to cast their votes at the polling booths, informed G.P. executive engineer Dr. M.R. Ravi.

He was speaking at a press meet at district commissioner’s office on Wednesday and said that of the disable people, 5,726 are physically disabled, 829 are blind, 1,006 are deaf and 3,220 have other forms of disabilities. 437 polling booths and 310 wheel chairs are required for them. 250 wheel chairs form the health department and 60 wheel chairs from private hospital and nursing homes have been requisitioned. The wheel chairs will be handed over to BLO by TLO on the day before election, he said.

There are blind voters at 452 polling booths in the district. They will be provided with magnifying glass. Gram Panchayath’s have been directed to procure magnifying glasses within 3% funds. Vehicle facility has been provided to transport disabled people to 585 polling booths in 35 gram panchayath limits. BLO or PDO must identify a vehicle for transporting the disable people, a day before the elections and get a pass from the relevant official, he informed.

It has been decided to provide food-tea-snacks at the polling booth itself, to the staff, BLO and bag members doing their duties for election. ‘Akshara Dasoha’ staff will be used for this purpose. Previous night’s dinner, breakfast, lunch and tea for May 12th will be provided. Also, important facilities have been arranged at the pooling booths. All polling booths will have first aid boxes, he added.