The four Assembly segments and one Lok Sabha seat spread over Jagatsinghpur district that went on polls on April 29 witnessed a voters’ turnout of about 65 per cent, said Collector-cum-District Election Officer G Poonam Tapas Kumar.
Despite delays over EVM glitches, polling at several booths passed off peacefully. There were a few stray incidents of violence, theCollector informed.
The district administration designed model booths, pink booths and PWDs booths where huge voters' turnout was witnessed.
As many as 60 model booths were erected in four Assembly constituencies, 15 each. The aim was to make voting comfortable with availability of 15 Assured Minimum Facilities [AMF],including provision of ramp, drinking water, adequate furniture, medical kits, toilets, shade,
volunteers, crèche for children, help desk, transport management and queue management, etc.
This correspondent visited a model booth in the Singarpur School where he found no deficiency of the AMFs. The voters were casting votes comfortably.
Two pink booths, like number 71 and number 72 were made inside SK Academy School premises. They had all women pooling personnel. The booths were decorated with balloon gates, message gates, waiting sheds available of personnel.
Presiding Officer of the booth Mamata Manjari Mohanty informed that the booth comprises 916 voters.“By 5 pm we have above 60 per cent voting and the process was hassle free.”
Moreover, one PWD booth was erected in the Markandapur UP School premises under the Jagatsinghpur Assembly segment. The booth was managed by pooling personnel with disability.
Two long queues one for male and others for female were noticed outside the booth.
Adolescent girls were greeting voters giving roses.Red carpets were laid to welcome the voters with water bottles, buttermilk and chocolates. All the arrangements were made in collaboration with the Jagatsinghpur Municipality staffs.
Presiding Officer Arabinda Banarjee informed, “We have received about 64 per cent. The booth has a total voters of 1,424 voters. All my disabled polling personnel are properly handling the voting.”
One Dilip Kumar Behera who gave his vote in PWDs managed booth informed that he got no problem while casting vote.
Replying success of model booths, PWDs booths and women managed pink booths in elections in the district, Collector Kumar remarked, “We just implemented the instruction of the Election Commission of India holding these booths. The accolades go to our pooling personnel and voters.”