The Election commission’s initiative to encourage women participation in the general elections in Delhi, not only attracted the women voters in large numbers but also made them and their children especially toddlers happy. In first of its kind the ‘Pink Polling Booth’ exclusively manned by women staff with a crèche alike facility with toys and more than two women in attendance. More than two separate women staffers were deployed on 17 all women booth to play and take care of the children while the children’s parents (both mother and father) were standing in the queue to cast their vote.
The entrance of the women polling station displayed a message in bold letters ‘Naari Shakti’ and was decorated with pink balloons in an arch style and the woman voters were welcomed with a flower by the polling staffs and volunteers.
“It is very attracting and good to see that the polling staff is completely manned by female staffs. The facility of crèche with toys and teddy bears is a fantastic idea and it gives an immense enthusiasm and empowerment to the woman voters who can now aim to work and step outside the home,” said a Aksa, who casted her vote at Sarvodya Kanya Vidyalaya no.1, Zeenat Mahal, Kamla Market.
The ‘Pink polling’ booth has been initiated for the first time in the National Capital for the Lok Sabha Elections and about 17 polling staff most of them in North East, East parliament seats were set up where from presiding officers to ground staff, all were women. Apart from this, in this polls had large number of woman election cum returning officers (RO). Out of the seven parliament seats, four seats had woman RO.
Of the 17, two pink polling booths were set up at Matia Mahal, Kamla Market in Chandini Chowk Constituency, one in North East Delhi and the highest number of 10 all woman staffs were set up in East Delhi, one each in New Delhi, South Delhi, West and North West constituency.
However, at Jafrabad, very few women were seen at pink booths to exercise their franchise due to lack of awareness about the same. Many of the women said they have no idea about such booths and even were not told by anyone about it. Interestingly, only three to four women were in queue at the pink booth here to cast their votes. On the other hand a long queue of women was seen at other booths in a scorching heat.
Besides, a separate polling station was dedicated for the Persons with Disability (PwD) voters at Tahirpur in East Delhi constituency.
“It will empower the woman community and this polling booths give a direct message to the society that woman is equal to men,” said Tanvi Garg, Returning Officer of Chandini Chowk constituency. The voting in Delhi was started at 6 am and continued till 7.30 pm. As many as 164 prosperous candidates were in the fray in all the seven lok Sabha seats, out of which 18 are woman.
A total of 13,816 polling stations were set up in 2,700 locations across the city. Further 70 model polling stations were set up each assembly constituencies.
There are over 1.43 crore voters on Delhi’s electoral roll. Out of the total electorate size of 1,43,16,453, as many as 78,73,022 are male and 64,43,431 female, while 669 belong to third gender.
Selvi, a 45 year old voter from New Delhi constituency said, this is wonderful idea to empower woman, it shows that we woman are no lesser than anyone. We can work and run a family at a same time. But I also request the government to create more safety and security for the woman especially during night hour.
