With the help of an interpreter, the volunteers tell Newslaundry they cast their votes in every election, but the government looks at them as “charity cases”. Atul Rathod, in his early 30s, says: “The election happens every five years, but nothing changes in our lives. The Congress, BJP—they’re all the same when it comes to disabled people. Instead of addressing our problems, the government considers us as charity cases. There’s this notion in our society that feeding the disabled will help someone get rid of their sins. We’re not considered equal citizens. This whole election thing is just a formality and nothing else.”