Election Commission Requests That Parties Abstain From Making Insults Towards People with Disabilities

The Election Commission of India (ECI) has requested that political parties and their leaders abstain from using “derogatory words” for people with disabilities in public speeches. The ECI claims that using such terminology in speeches or campaigning by party members may be seen as an insult to those who are affected by disability.

In a recommendation submitted to the parties on Wednesday, the poll panel said that inclusive representation of all populations in the election process is essential to democracy.

The Commission has recently been alerted about the use of rude or insulting language against persons with disabilities (PwDs) in political debate. The survey panel said that using such semantics in speech or campaign by candidates or members of any political party may be seen as disrespectful to people with disabilities.

The Election Commission also emphasized that individuals with disabilities (PwDs) should have access to political party members’ public speeches, campaigning, and other activities. The group recommended that additional PwDs be hired by and become members of political parties.

Words like stupid (Gunga), retarded (pagal, sapphire), blind (and, kana), deaf (Mehra), lame (langda, lula, apahij), etc. are typical instances of ableist language. It is essential to refrain from using such disparaging words, according to ECI.

According to the Rights of Persons with Impairments Act of 2016, impairments include, but are not limited to, blindness, poor vision, deafness, locomotor disability, intellectual disability, and other disorders.

The polling organization also suggested that political parties designate a person with the power to handle complaints from disabled individuals over the use of ableist terminology. Additionally, it demanded that political parties provide party employees at all tiers of the political process a training program.

The Election Commission is dedicated to integrating the idea and practice of accessibility into all of its procedures and operations, according to Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar. He said that being disabled does not imply being unable.

According to CEC Kumar, “the true disability may be our incapacity to recognize the inner ability of the specially-abled individuals.”