Mumbai, 15th November 2024 – Dr. Abraham Mathai, Former Vice-Chairman of the Minorities Commission and Chief Patron of SEAL Ashram, has formally appealed to the Maharashtra State Election Commission for special voting arrangements to be made for 220 eligible residents at SEAL Ashram, New Panvel, during the upcoming Maharashtra state elections on 20th November 2024.
Many of the residents at SEAL Ashram, who are destitute and physically challenged, hold valid voter ID cards but face significant barriers in reaching polling stations due to their limited mobility and other challenges. SEAL Ashram, which has been dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating marginalized individuals for over 25 years, currently houses individuals who are unable to independently access electoral booths.
In his letter to the Maharashtra Election Commission, Dr. Mathai highlighted the need for a voting facility to be set up directly at SEAL Ashram, a proposal he believes would ensure that these residents can fully exercise their democratic right to vote. Dr. Mathai stressed that establishing such a centralized voting facility within institutions like SEAL Ashram is both practical and efficient, enabling authorities to reach a larger number of voters with fewer resources, compared to outreach programs aimed at individual households.
This request builds on the success of similar initiatives seen during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where over 1.7 crore elderly and disabled individuals were empowered to vote through “vote from home” programs. Dr. Mathai believes that setting up a similar voting mechanism at SEAL Ashram will not only empower its residents but also serve as a replicable model for other institutions that care for marginalized and disabled citizens across the country.
Dr. Mathai also recalled a successful precedent set during the COVID-19 pandemic, when an Aadhaar issuance camp was organized at SEAL Ashram to help its residents obtain the crucial identification documents necessary for vaccinations. The initiative, supported by the then District Collector, Ms. Nidhi Choudary, not only ensured that the residents received their vaccinations but also led to the reunification of 25 individuals with their families.
Drawing from this experience, Dr. Mathai expressed confidence that a similar initiative for voting would ensure that citizens residing in such institutions are not disenfranchised due to their circumstances. He envisions this step as a pioneering move that could inspire similar measures in other care homes and institutions, helping millions of marginalized individuals across the country participate in the democratic process.
This appeal is just and right to make the right of voting more inclusive.