Sign-language app for hearing-impaired voters in Punjab

DN Bureau

A sign-language mobile application for hearing-impaired voters of Punjab will be developed to help them take informed decisions in the general election.

Representational Image
Representational Image


Chandigarh: A sign-language mobile application for hearing-impaired voters of Punjab will be developed to help them take informed decisions in the general election, state Chief Electoral Officer S Karuna Raju said.

The office of the Punjab CEO has called for expression of interest for development of the application. It has also proposed video-calling facility for the speech/hearing-impaired community to interact with the authorities to clarify their queries or file complaints, an official said.

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"A sign language mobile app will be developed for the speech/hearing-impaired voters," Raju said here.

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With the help of this application, the speech-impaired voters will get information like polling booth number. The sign language, which they can easily understand, will be used, Raju said.

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The initiative is also intended to share information regarding voters' rights and responsibilities. It will help them to take informed decisions in choosing their representatives and leaders, an official said.

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According to the Census, Punjab has about 1.70 lakh citizens in the category of 'hard of hearing'. Out of them, around 5,800 have been registered as speech/hearing-impaired voters in the electoral roll. The state has a total of around 70,000 voters in the category of persons with disabilities (PWD).

The Election Commission of India has issued directions to facilitate the differently-abled electors and motivate them to be a part of the elections.

Polling in Punjab will be held on May 19.










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