Model booths to have special facilities for young and old
Denizens of Ranchi are ready to vote on April 17, they might have a ‘feel good’ experience in their booths if it is one of the ‘Model Booth’. Ranchi is said to have the maximum number of such facility based booths among the 14 constituencies marked in the State for the lok Sabha elections.
The concept which is being implemented for the first time in Jharkhand which has received a good response in lohardaga, Chatra, Palamau and Koderma constituencies, where the first phase polling was held on April 10. First time voters and senior citizens would especially be the ‘gainers’ of this concept. Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM), National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets and Panchayat Yuva Krida Aur Khel
Abhiyan (PYKKA) staffs will welcome these voters by presenting a ‘rose’. Possibilities of gifting them their clicked photo with indelible ink on the spot, is another surprise for these cadre of voters.
These booths would have waiting rooms where voters can sit under fan. Clean drinking water facilities are available here. Speaking on the details, an officer of Ranchi district said, “90 of these Model Booths will be equipped with webcasting and videography. The voters in these booths will not have to wait in queue. Instead, tokens would be given by Rozgar Sevaks on the basis of which they can cast their vote accordingly. In the meantime, they can wait in the waiting rooms. Juice will be offered to voters in some of the Model Booths. One can find toilets as well in these booths.”
Also, first aid facilities will be available in all these Model Booths. According to sources, Administrative Training Institute (ATI) and Red Cross Society have been marked Model Booths for the VVIPs. Governor Syed Ahmed will cast vote at ATI whereas Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice Banumathi will cast vote at Red Cross Society.
Notably, The Pioneer had mentioned about this ‘Model Booths’ on March 29 when it was being discussed as a proposal applicable to limited booths of the mentioned number of constituencies. “These innovative ideas are for attracting large number of voters to the polling booths,” an official of Ranchi collectorate said. The office of state capital administration stated that booth number 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 43, 44, 62, 64, 65, 68, 73, 88, 89, 211, 212, 213, 137 and 138 are declared as Model Booths at Ranchi. “This includes CIP Guest House, Ormanjhi Middle School, Ratu, Kidri, SSC Middle School Khalari, Siromtoli, High School Tatisilwai, and Burmu,” a staff of Ranchi deputy commissioner’s office maintained.
However, district administration will begin the set up of these Model Booths from Sunday or Monday as they claim the arrangement to be an “easy cum quick made” process.