Lack of arrangements make divyangs, senior citizens suffer
   Date :24-Apr-2019

 
 
 
Staff Reporter Bhilai:
 
Lack of infrastructure as well as basic amenities spoiled the enthusiasm of voters across Bhilai, who came out in large numbers to use their franchise on Tuesday in third and last phase of election in State, to a great extent at several polling centres. Lack of shade and long queues further lowered their spirit. Several senior citizens and physically disabled voters complained about either not being able to access rooms and even about facilities like drinking water. Apart from it, as per promise of Chief Electoral Officer, there was no arrangement of vehicle to pick and drop disabled and senior citizen voters in the city. Kamla Sahu, who voted at Indira Government College Vaishali Nagar, said that ‘There was no drinking water available for the voters standing in the queue.
 
There was one big polling room with just one tubelight and a fan. These are basic arrangements that should have been made as the voter turnout was massive. Apart from it, there was no vehicle arrangement and I had to arrive at polling station with the help of neighbours. Rammanahor Bhagat, who cast his vote in Government Upper Primary School Housing Board, stated that, “There was a lot of rush and we had to wait for a long time. I saw a wheelchair as well but there was no ramp. In fact, there were three rooms where people could cast their vote but rush was noticed only at one. I think it was not managed properly,” he pointed. Neeta Maheshwari, who cast her vote at Camp II, stated that there was no separate facility available for senior citizens that would allow them to cast their vote faster.
 
Even at Camp II schools cum polling stations, two of the booths did not have wheelchairs. Mahendra Dewangan who voted in Government High School Junwani area, informed that, ‘Arrangements at High School booth were not up to the mark. Booth lacked fans as well as chairs for senior citizens. Also, we were not allowed to park vehicles in parking area of the school premises, but forced to park on the road’ he added. Another voter Supreet Burman, who voted in Kohka, asserted that, ‘At our booth the management was extremely poor and it did not have separate queue for senior citizens’. Some teachers who was on poll duty had a harrowing time as their booths did not have ceiling fans working.
 
At the same time, there were booths where officials as well as security personnel went beyond the call of duty and helped people reach their polling booths. Tulsiram Naidu was transported on a wheelchair from his house at Radhika Nagar to the booth which was hardly 5 minutes away. A voter who was present at that time said, ‘I have never seen such dedicated people in the government set-up. They ensured that the man does not lose an opportunity to vote’. Even at Primary School Nehru Nagar East, a senior citizen’s car was allowed right up to the entry door of the building so that he did not have to walk all the way.