In an initiative to facilitate participation of differently abled people in the election process, as part of the Election Commissions's programme, Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer Fredrick Roy Kharkongor handed the first Braille elector photo identity card to Padma Shri Bertha Dkhar on Tuesday in Shillong.

It may be noted that Bertha Gyndykes Dkhar is a visually impaired Indian educationist and the principal of Jyoti Sroat Inclusive School, which is the first school run by the Bethany Society for the visually impaired people in the state. She is one of the leading disability activists and also best known as inventor of the Braille code in Khasi.

Bertha was honoured with fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri in 2010.

According to reports, there are 4,986 voters with disabilities and the Election Commission has issued over 800 braille-enabled ballot papers for 797 visually impaired voters across the state.