Bhubaneswar, Jan. 17: For the first time, people having hearing or speech impairment or suffering from tuberculosis or leprosy have been allowed to contest panchayat polls.

The panchayati raj laws had so far debarred people belonging to these categories from contesting rural polls. Participating in the democratic process became a reality for these people in May last year after the state government made amendment to the law.

An official of the State Election Commission said figures of such people filing nomination papers were not available since there was no provision for maintaining a separate record for them.

A provision in the panchayati law that debarred such people from contesting polls read: "A persons shall be disqualified for being elected or nominated as a member of the panchayati raj bodies if he/she is.... a deaf-mute, or is suffering from tuberculosis or in the opinion of the District Leprosy Officer is suffering from an infectious type of leprosy."

Last year, the government dropped the provision from the Odisha Gram Panchayat Act, Odisha Panchayat Samiti Act and Odisha Zilla Parishad Act. "Such restrictions have become redundant as these impairments or ailments are now curable," said a senior official of the state panchayati raj department.

Disability rights activist Sruti Mohapatra said: "Lots of gadgets are now available. It will not difficult for a differently-abled person to perform. Being differently-abled is not an impediment to understanding the political scenario or undertaking political responsibilities."

"The concept of disabled has undergone a sea change. They are no more considered as a liability, but an asset to the society," she said. However, the lists of symbols for those fighting to become ward members and panchayat samiti members have remained unchanged.