K. Deepa, 37, a person with disabilities, of the Narikurava community, casting her vote at a polling booth at Devarayaneri in Tiruchi district on Friday.
| Photo Credit: M. MOORTHY

While ramps and wheelchairs were provided, complete accessibility to cast vote was still not achieved for the disabled community in the first phase of the Lok Sabha Elections that was held in Tamil Nadu on Friday.

For first time voter T. Saravanan, 19, a wheelchair user, the EVM was not accessible, leading to him not being able to cast his own vote. “I was very excited to take part in the elections but there was no space for my wheelchair to move into the EVM space. My mother had to vote on my behalf. I couldn’t even touch the EVM,” he said.

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Disabled persons highlighted that there was no accessible toilet while most polling booths were also missing handrails to help them up the ramps nor were the ramps at the right height for easy access. They also noted that they weren’t allowed to take their vehicles past the gate of the polling booth to access their booths.

K. Kamalnathan, wheelchair user voting in North Chennai constituency, crawled on the floor to reach the EVM. He said the officials offered to carry him. “Why should they? Shouldn’t I have my privacy and dignity to cast my vote,” he questioned.

Ummul Khair, a member of the Disability Legislation Unit said that she asked the officials to move the EVM to make space to accommodate the wheelchair and did not move until the space was made but her troubles didn’t end there. “I reached the EVM and realised I could not reach the buttons. It was difficult,” she added.

Meanwhile, Aranga Raja, who is visually impaired, used the braille sheet and Form 7A but found it difficult to cast his vote as the EVM was’t numbered and it was assembled from right to left, something which he was not prepared for. “The polling officer had to help me and my privacy to cast my vote was lost,” he said.

People with low vision complained that the rooms were poorly lit making it difficult to see the symbols while some others also noted that the symbols were small too.

“It has been a half-hearted effort. Despite access audits of the polling booths conducted out of the efforts of the community, many people were still unable to vote as the EVMs were not accessible or the ramps were too steep,” said Aishwarya Rao, member of the Disability Rights Alliance.

In Pallapalayam in Coimbatore, 77-year-old Shanmugham said he had cast his vote for 12 MP elections. “I had voted when Nehru was elected the Prime Minister,” he claimed. “I used to work in a textile mill. My movement is restricted because I suffered a stroke,” he said.

In Tiruchy, Mohamed Ibrahim (57) from Muslim Street, who had cast his vote at a polling booth at Al-Jamieathus Sadhik Matriculation School in Khajamalai, said he has been exercising his franchise without fail. “I eagerly waited for the polling day to cast my vote. I follow political news and strongly believe that effecting change is in our hands,” said Mr. Ibrahim.

A poll official works on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at a distribution centre in Coimbatore on April 11, 2024, ahead of the country’s upcoming general elections.
| Photo Credit: R. SATISH BABU

An analysis of economic, social and environmental indicators of Tamil Nadu, which is headed to the national polls this Friday, shows that the State has recorded a holistic development across periods. While on the one side, it features among the top major States in various indicators which measure child-health, women empowerment and educational attainment, the State also features among the top major States in economic performance, strongly supported by its manufacturing sector. The State should concentrate on sustainable development as its better economic performance has come at a cost with it lagging in environment-related indicators.

Table 1 | The table lists Tamil Nadu’s rank on social indicators and its actual score in a parameter in 2019-21, 2015-16 and 2005-06. It shows the change in Tamil Nadu’s rank in 2019-21, compared to 2015-16. 

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The rankings include smaller States too such as the northeastern States and Goa. So Tamil Nadu’s rankings among major States are depicted separately. For instance, the share of the female population aged six or above, who ever attended school in 2019-21 was 80.4% in the State. While Tamil Nadu was ranked 11 of the 30 States analysed, if only major States were considered, it featured inside the top three (behind Kerala [1] and Himachal [10]). States ranked two to nine were smaller States.

The share of women aged 20-24, who married before turning 18 was 12.8% in 2019-21 (ranked 13 of 30). The share of such women has decreased in Tamil Nadu over the years, however, the State’s relative ranking has increased from 9th in 2005-06 to 13th in 2019-21.

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Tamil Nadu featured among the top three major States in both the Infant mortality rate and the share of stunted children in 2019-21. Its relative ranking in the share of wasted children too has improved from 23rd in 2005-05 to 10th in 2019-21. It is placed much closer to the top three States in the share of underweight children.

In the share of households with any member covered under a health insurance/financing scheme (%), the State is ranked fourth. However, the State has to improve much when it comes to population share that uses an improved sanitation facility.

Table 2 | The table shows Tamil Nadu’s actual score in the Human Development Index (HDI) and the change in rank in 2021 compared to 1990.

Tamil Nadu’s ranking in the Human Development Index has improved from 16th in 1990 to 11th in 2021 (Table 2) . The State’s economic performance has also improved in the last two decades. In 1993-94, it was ranked eighth out of 27 States and in 2021-22 it jumped to the sixth spot overall (third rank among major States) in per capita net state domestic product (current prices) as shown in Table 3.

Table 3 | The table shows Tamil Nadu’s per capita net state domestic product and its change in rank in 2021-22, compared to 1993-94.

Also, its economic might is majorly supported by the manufacturing sector, which employs 18.7% of the State’s workforce. This is the third-highest share among major States (Table 4). Also, in terms of the contribution of manufacturing to the State’s total Gross Value Added, the State is ranked sixth overall and fourth among major States.

Table 4 | The table shows Tamil Nadu’s rank in indicators related to manufacturing.

Among educational indicators, Tamil Nadu is among the best-performing States (Table 5) . The State has the highest Gross Enrolment ratio (GER) in higher education, and the third-highest GER in higher secondary schooling, among major States.

Table 5 | The table shows Tamil Nadu’s rank in indicators related to education.

However, the State lags in environment-related indicators due to industrial growth (Table 6) . In terms of hazardous waste generated per capita, the State was ranked 25 out of 28 (three States had lower waste generation). In terms of fossil fuels consumed per capita, Tamil Nadu ranked 22 of 30 (eight States had lower consumption).

Table 6 | The table shows Tamil Nadu’s rank in environment-leading indicators.

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Chennai:

Promises to scrap ‘One Nation, One Election’, repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act, or CAA, and simultaneously award Indian citizenship to returning Sri Lankan Tamils are among the promises made by Tamil Nadu’s ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

The DMK is part of the Congress-led INDIA bloc formed in June last year to stop Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party from claiming a third consecutive term.

The DMK has also vowed to scrap the NEET, or National Entrance Eligibility Test, which is administered for admission to medical courses pan-India. Tamil Nadu is a fierce critic of the NEET.

READ | Tamil Nadu Moves Supreme Court, Challenges Validity Of NEET

In February last year the state moved the Supreme Court claiming the single-window common exam is violates federal principles, since it takes away states’ decision-making ability regarding education.

Released by Chief Minister MK Stalin and senior leaders, including Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi, the DMK has laid out a strong agenda of reviewing the BJP’s “anti-people laws”, including the National Education Policy, which it has heavily criticised for imposing Hindi on the southern states.

“People’s Manifesto”, Says Chief Minister

“The DMK continues to do what we say… this is what our leaders taught us. We went all over the state and listened to the people. This is not just a DMK manifesto… it is the people’s manifesto,” Mr Stalin said, accusing the BJP of having “destroyed India” and failing to fulfil their promises.

The Chief Minister also took a jab at the Prime Minister, who has made six visits to Tamil Nadu this year. Mr Stalin remarked he would have happier had the PM “come during the time of floods”.

READ | PM Holds Massive Rally In Tamil Nadu, Targets AIADMK Stronghold

Mr Modi has been actively touring the southern states to boost the BJP’s profile. The party has a negligible presence in Tamil Nadu; in the last election it got less than three per cent of the votes.

Kanimozhi To NDTV

DMK MP Kanimozhi, who has been nominated to defend her Thoothukudi seat, told NDTV the manifesto focused on protecting the federal nature of the country – a concern frequently also raised by Bengal’s Trinamool, another INDIA bloc member, and the rights of state governments.

“Our promises are implementable if the INDIA bloc forms the (central) government,” she said, expressing thanks to the DMK for re-fielding her from the Thoothukudi seat.

READ | Congress-DMK Seal Tamil Nadu Deal, Guest Showing By Kamal Haasan

The DMK today also released a first list of candidates for the 21 seats it will contest; Tamil Nadu has 39 Lok Sabha seats. The rest will go to the Congress and smaller parties, in allotments identical to the 2019 arrangement. Five years ago the DMK-Congress combine swept the state, winning 38 seats.

“We have seen how much the Dravidian model of government has done for the people of this state, and this manifesto will help us take our Dravidian model all over India. I am sure of securing not only all seats in Tamil Nadu, but a good number across the country too…” Kanimozhi said.

DMK Lok Sabha Manifesto Details

Among other big-ticket promises made by the DMK are drastic cuts to the prices of petrol, diesel, and LPG (cooking gas) to Rs 75 and Rs 65 per litre and Rs 500 per cylinder, free Wi-Fi services across the state, statehood for Puducherry, scrapping of the Uniform Civil Code, and the immediate implementation of 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament and state legislatures.

There is also a focus on students and women empowerment in the manifesto, which promises interest-free loans of up to Rs 4 lakh for students and Rs 10 lakh for women self-help groups.

READ | No UCC; Chief Minister To Approve Governor: DMK Manifesto

A raft of central government-backed research and higher education institutions, including IIMs and IITs, will be set up in the state, and college students will get 1GB of mobile data free, the DMK said.

A significant point is a two-year “cooling period” for judges looking to join private companies or political parties after their retirement. This point has been seen against the backdrop of former Bengal High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay stepping down and joining the BJP days later.

READ | Court Raps Tamil Nadu Governor For Referring Bills To President

Also significant is a promise to review the process by which Governors are appointed and to remove any immunity afforded to these posts. This is key because the Tamil Nadu government has been engaged in a running battle with Governors over the past few years, accusing the centre’s representative of interfering in state governance and deliberately denying assent to key bills.

When Does Tamil Nadu Vote?

Tamil Nadu votes in a single phase on April 19, the first day of polling for the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Results will be declared on June 4.

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