The Indian Deaf Cricket Team was honoured by the Election Commission of India today at Nirvachan Sadan on the eve of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The Election Commission salutes the players' courage and resiliency, CEC Shri Rajiv Kumar said in welcoming the team.

By winning the T20 Champions Trophy, which was hosted in the UAE by the Deaf International Cricket Council, the squad has brought honour to the nation. According to Sh Kumar, it's critical to give the winners the appropriate publicity and visibility. The Indian Deaf Cricket Association team will play against professional cricket teams, and ECI will look at the potential of financing the game.
 

To commemorate the International Day of PwDs, the Commission also organised a sensitization training workshop for Commission officers on "Diversity and Inclusion" led by Padma Shri recipient Dr. Niru Kumar, an ECI National Icon.

Shri Kumar explained that ECI has created a one-stop solution in the form of an APP called Saksham App for enabling and supporting the PwDs from enrolment to Election Day amenities. This was done through administrative and technological improvements. The ECI offers a variety of services that allow PwD voters to participate in the electoral process, making them Sakshams. Both the Apple Store and the Google Play Store offer the App for download.

ECI has been implementing several measures to ensure accessible facilitation at the polling stations, making them conducive for Persons with Disabilities to cast their vote without any hassles.

Notified checklist for provisions such as polling stations on ground floor, standardised ramps, wheelchairs, volunteers, EVM with braille and ballot paper, braille EPIC, accessible toilets, tactile signage, sign language interpreters and pick up drop facility are made available in polling stations.

The Commission has also provided the option of postal ballot facility to PwDs with 40% benchmarked disability to vote from the comfort of their homes.