Amir Tantray
Doda, Apr 19: The enthusiastic 100 plus voters stole the show in the first phase of parliamentary elections in Udhampur constituency sending a message to young voters to come out and exercise their franchise.
From old to young, people thronged to polling stations to cast their votes to elect their Member Parliament (MP).
One 107-year-old lady came out in the Dessa area of Doda district and reached the polling station to cast her vote.
Ramku Devi, wife of Tolu Ram cast her vote in Dewalkund polling station established on a hilltop in Dessa area. Expressing her happiness, she said that God has given her another chance to elect a representative who can raise the voice of the neglected lot. “At a time when road connectivity has improved everywhere, we still have to travel for five to six kilometers to reach the nearest bus stop in Gai. Our children have to trek everyday to reach school and compete with students of those areas where facilities are more,” she said.
To provide better facilities and ensure more and more people come out to vote, election authorities used palanquins to ferry old and handicapped voters.
One such gesture was witnessed in Golibag polling station where an elderly handicapped woman was brought on a palanquin to vote. These palanquins were kept at many polling stations where with the help of local youth old people were ferried to and fro lolling station.
This election seems to be different as compared to previous elections in terms of peoples’ participation and steps taken by Election Commission of India (ECI) to ensure better polling percentage. The polling staff was also given the best possible treatment by providing mattresses and food.
