Wheelchair service gladdens elderly, disabled

Coimbatore: For 91-year-old Chinnammal Chinnasamy even the injury she recently sustained in a fall wasn't a deterrent to cast her vote in the state assembly election on Monday.
The first thing she asked her granddaughter on Monday was if she could be accompanied to the polling station. Chinnammal had refused postal ballot, but wasn't ready to give up her right to exercise franchise.
The election commission's decision to install at least two wheelchairs in every polling station in the district helped hundreds of people like Chinnammal to enjoy a slightly comfortable access to the polling booths.
Chinnammal was taken to the polling booth at Bishop Ambrose College in Alwin Nagar at 12.45pm. "My parents and I cast our votes in the morning. Before returning home, we ensured the availability of a wheelchair," said Chinnammal's granddaughter Nivenditha Rajasekharan. "We thought that by the time we reach home, she would forget about vote. However, she insisted that she wants to vote," she further said.
As ill-luck would have it, both the wheelchairs were in use when Chinnammal reached the polling booth. Her family helped her to the booth. She, however, got a wheelchair after she cast her vote and was taken out of the polling booth in it. "I have always cast my vote, because it is my duty. The wheelchair wars definitely helpful," Chinnammal said.
The wheelchair facility also proved helpful for 83-year-old Mahabuneesa, who was bedridden for years. In polling stations such as Mani Higher Secondary School in Papanaickenpalayam, almost 50 people were ferried in wheelchairs in the first two hours of polling alone. K Kittammal, of Papanaickenpalayam, with deformed legs, said she usually walked with the help of a walker. "The booth was more than 150ft away and I couldn't have walked so long. Thankfully, they arranged for wheelchairs this year," she said. Many people suffering from fractures, elephantitis, old age and disability made use of wheelchair facility.