SRINAGAR: In a bid to enhance voter education and promote inclusivity, the Election Commission of India (ECI), in collaboration with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), organised an Exhibition Cricket Match between the Indian Deaf Cricket Association (IDCA) Team and the Delhi and District Cricket Association (DDCA) team.
The match took place on March 16, 2024, at the Karnail Singh Stadium in New Delhi. The event also marked the declaration of Ms Sheetal Devi, a distinguished Para-archer from JK State and recipient of the Arjuna Award, as the National Icon in the Persons with Disabilities (PwD) category.
The event was attended by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar and Election Commissioners Shri Gyanesh Kumar and Shri Sukhbir Singh Sandhu who felicitated the winning team. Renowned former Indian Cricketer, Nikhil Chopra, was also invited as the special guest alongside officials from DDCA and IDCA.
Both teams put up a spirited performance to entertain and thrill the crowd of 2500 spectators including Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) of various categories and young voters, gathered under a bright blue sky to enjoy the match. The DDCA team won by 69 runs (Scorecard- DDCA 190/5; IDCA – 121/8) in a match where the message of inclusivity and togetherness was the ultimate victor. The message of ‘Nothing like voting, I vote for sure’ rang loud and true throughout the event.
The match concluded with a captivating performance by the ‘Shining Star Music Band’- a band featuring the visually impaired.
For the event, the Commission launched a dedicated Voter’s Guide for PwDs and Senior Citizen Electors. The comprehensive booklet outlines essential provisions available to PwDs and senior citizens, including infrastructural, informative, and procedural details at polling stations, as well as the applicability and procedure for Postal Ballots, facilitating a smooth and pleasurable voting experience.
