Deaf-mute voters off roll, no proper hearing, say kin

Kolkata: Congenital inability to speak and hear has claimed the voting rights of youths whose names have been struck off the electoral roll. The families of these deleted voters alleged that the EC officials did not give them a proper hearing during special intensive revision (SIR) of the electoral roll.Sanu Hela (23), who is deaf and mute with partial Down syndrome, has fallen prey to name deletion at Charu Chandra Avenue in Rashbehari constituency. His parents rued that the youth was summoned for SIR hearing and though he had handed over his documents, he could not answer the EC officials' queries. "We were not allowed to speak on his behalf," alleged his father, Raju Hela (45), whose name has also been struck off the roll. Both of them have been living in this part of south Kolkata since birth and exercised their franchise in the 2024 Lok Sabha election held in the state.TOI visited his house and saw Sanu, with tears in his eyes, pointing towards his name in the list of exclusion after judicial scrutiny. "My son may be differently abled but he has his senses active. Ever since the SIR rollout, he was very enthusiastic because he realised that he would go to the polling booth for the second time. Who knew this SIR was to shatter his excitement. He is avoiding stepping out and is confining himself indoors.Even my name has been deleted," said Raju, wiping his own tears.Sanu's sister is also physically handicapped as she cannot walk. "I am a poor man running the family with two disabled children and bank on the govt's monthly assistance under disability scheme. I fear if the name deletion in electoral roll will stop that aid," said Raju who runs a fast food stall.The name of another deaf and mute youth from Basirhat, Abdul Halim, has also been deleted even though he was mapped to his parents whose names are there in the 2002 SIR list. His neighbour, Md Abdul Muzid Baidya, rued, "His parents are sick. He went for the hearing and produced his documents, including his disability certificate. The EC officials did not understand his sign language and omitted his name from the electoral roll. This has left him disappointed."
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