No Waiting in Q! VOTE in Style at the Model Polling Booths
Mangaluru: This Assembly election, the election commission has set up 20 pink polling stations with all women staff in Dakshina Kannada district. Five polling stations each in Mangaluru City South, Mangaluru City North and Mangaluru constituencies have been declared as pink booths. Out of these TWO are exclusively named as MODEL POLLING BOOTHS, with facilities fit for a King? These two booths are at the booth number 12 at Victoria Girls High School-Ladyhill-Mangaluru; and at booth no 72 at Dakshina Kannda Zilla Panchayat Higher Primary School-Gandhinagar, Mangaluru. You may get confused when you enter one of these Model Polling Booths- whether you are at an Awards Ceremony or at wedding reception.
Wow! As you enter the polling premises, you will be walking on the red carpet- and the best part is that you don’t have to stay in the queue, instead you will be made to sit on one of bunch of chairs arranged. Plus you’ll be sitting comfortably watching the TV place in the lounge, and even you’ll be kept cool in this hot weather by the fans in the lounge. And if you have kids, and don’t want to leave them at home alone or with the servant or grandparents, you can bring them along, since these Model Polling Booths have bunch of toys/toy tricycles so that the kids can keep them busy, while you vote- plus there is a caretaker also.. And if you get thirsty, even water coolers are provided.
After giving tokens, you are made to sit in the lounge- and when your turn comes you’ll be escorted and made to walk on the red carpet to the polling booth where you’ll caste your vote. One of the staff assigned for the polling duty speaking to Team Mangalorean said, ” With all the facilities provided here at the Model Polling Booth, including a play area for kids, I am happy that I brought my 5 year daughter who will be enjoying the toys in the play area while I am at the poll work. This booth is quite convenient for poll volunteers like us”.
A 76 year old man {who was reluctant to give his name and also his picture taken } had come to this Model Polling Booth had come to this Model Polling as early as 6.30 am in the morning, and was the first one to vote at that booth. Speaking to Team Mangalorean has said, “I have never seen something extra ordinary like this booth during my entire life since I have been voting in every single elections. It is nice that the SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) committee had come up with such kind of concept, which would please the voters and also attract more voters. Every time the person whom I have voted has won, and I am hoping the same this time- but this time I have voted for the candidate, not for which party he belongs, but for his developmental and hard work- and I am confident that he will win”
These unique Model Polling booths are the efforts of Zilla Panchayath CEO M R Ravi and DK Deputy Commissioner Sasikath Senthil-Good job, Sirs! So any one of you are still to cast your vote, and if you are living in the area of these two booths, don’t miss this opportunity, where you will be given a Royal Treatment!
PINK POLLING BOOTHS, Exclusively for WOMEN!
This Assembly election, the election commission has not left behind anyone when it comes to voting- even Transgenders have been given a chance to vote, by providing them Voters ID Cards for the First time. The district administration has also identified 10,300 physically challenged voters and all arrangements have been made to bring them to polling stations today, May 12. Also introduced is transportation to polling stations in remote areas., and in addition, people have been requested to decorate their premises during election, making it look like an Election Festival- and few polling booths have already got that look. Even beggars in the rehabilitation centre have been encouraged to vote, only if those beggars in the rehabilitation centre are mentally sound. Also, the district administration has made arrangements to bring patients in various hospitals and medical colleges in Mangaluru to the polling stations.
Apart from all the above, the Election Commission has introduced Pink Polling Booth, exclusively for women- but if a woman comes along with her husband, a special consideration is given- as seen this morning at the Pink Polling Booth at Govt Women’s College-Jyothi Circle-Mangaluru. It’s okay, as far this husband is not harmful to other women? Scholars in the field of gender studies and political analysts have hailed this move, saying it would encourage more women to come out and vote.
The Election Commission has set up these special Sakhi, or Pink, polling booths, staffed entirely by women – from the presiding officers to the micro-observers and security personnel. This was only been done with an intention to attract more women to vote. Belthangady, Moodbidri, Bantwal, Puttur and Sullia, have got one pink polling station each. While in Mangaluru, St Victoria Girls High School, Lady Hill; DKZP Higher Primary Schools in Bejai, Gandhinagar; St Aloysius Higher Primary School, Urwa; and Government Girls PU College, Balmatta of Mangaluru South constituency are the pink polling stations in the city.
These Pink Polling Booths are decorated with pink balloons, tablecloths, walls, etc., and the officials are all be dressed in shades of pink, except a few who are lazy or making fuss to be seen clad in pink. Pink polling booths were seen in the Assembly polls held in Punjab, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and some northeastern states- so Karnataka has become a copycat! Around 450 such booths have been set up in Karnataka, and EC has ensured that these booths come up in areas where 60% of the women are registered as voters-where they have taken many measures to ensure women vote. TV spots, Radio shows, dramas, plays, etc., are being organised to promote these Pink Polling Booths.
A committee member of SVEEP programme stationed at the Govt Women’s PU College speaking to Team Mangalorean said, ” Scholars working in the field of Women’s Studies and electoral practices have appreciated the move. Inherent power relations are present in all aspects and public spaces. In a patriarchal society like India, men hold the positions of authority and women find it difficult to approach them, especially if they are strangers. Women will feel safer in a space where there are more women and will find it easier to clarify doubts. There have been cases where election officials have taken the voters’ hand and taught them how to use the EVM. This is a deterrent for women voters, especially from rural areas. Women will feel more comfortable if there are female officials too.”
PLEASE VOTE! MATHA HAKI! VOTE PADELE! It’s Voting Spree in Kudla!
It is learnt that for the 2018 Karnataka Assembly elections, there are around 4.97 crore registered voters, up by 12% from the 4.37 crore voters registered in 2013. There are 2.52 crore male voters this time, compared to the 2.23 crore registered in 2013. From 2.13 crore in 2013, the number women voters registered have increased by 14.53%, to 2.44 crore for the upcoming elections. In the 2013 Karnataka assembly elections, the overall voting percentage was 71.45%, a sharp increase from 64.78% in 2008. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Karnataka had its third-highest voter participation in a parliamentary election at 67.28%.
During the March 4, 2018 Press Meet, DC Sasikanth Senthil had released the final voters list of DK. He said the draft voters list has a total of 16,66,814 voters including 22,513 newly included voters. There are a total of 8,20,764 male voters and 8,46,050 female voters. Of the total voters 16,24,137 voters have photo ID cards. There are a total of 9,280 differently abled voters. The district will have a total of 1,790 polling booths of which 37 booths which lack amenities will be replaced.
Dr V T D’Souza seen with his wife
Mangaluru saw quite a few voters lined up to cast their votes in favor of their candidates as early as 7.30 am- both young, middle-aged and Seniors were seen all excited to cast their votes. The polling Booth at St Theresa School-Bendur-Mangaluru saw quite a few people all geared up for the occasion. One of the voters, Dr V T D’souza, aged 86, who had come along with his wife, Cecelia speaking to Team Mangalorean said, ” Since I had started voting when I was eligible to do so, I have never missed a single polling day. Voting is a right and privilege, which not many people get-so we should make the best use of it. I have made the right choice in casting my vote to the right person who rightly deserves it, so that he can represent me when he is elected. I urge all those who have the voting rights to get up from their beds, and head on to the polling booths-your vote can bring a change and make a difference”.