There was a sense of helplessness among the patients admitted in the various wards of Doon hospital here on the day of voting on Wednesday. Most of these in-house patients rued the fact that they could not participate in the 'festival of democracy'. There are thousands of patients admitted in the various hospitals and all of them as well as their attendants could not vote on May 7.
Prithivipal Singh Payal of Dhanari Village of Uttarkashi District who is admitted in ward number 2 of Doon Hospital for the past 25 days told The Pioneer that he is very interested in politics and he is disappointed as he could not vote. Payal, who is facing a severe neurological disorder, is a farmer by profession and said that he has exercised his franchise in every election. A keen political observer, Payal keeps himself updated with newspapers. The attendants of these sick people, too, could not vote. VS Negi, a resident of Khiduwala of Raipur area, told this correspondent that all six members of his family did not cast their votes this time as he is admitted in hospital with multiple fractures. Negi, a fast food vendor, was hit by a vehicle on April 12 when he was returning home. His wife Sumitra Devi said that entire family could not vote as they were busy in hospital. "We had brought the voter cards along with us to the hospital, but could not spare time for voting," rued Sumitra Devi.
Naveen Panwar, a student admitted in ward number 4 of Doon hospital, would have been a first time voter this time had he would not have been met with an accident. Panwar, who is a resident of Urgam village of Joshimath, said he was much exited with the prospect of voting for the first time in these elections. His mother and elder brother could also not vote as they are attending him in the hospital.
Mahadevi, a 50-year-old woman of Sawar village of Chamoli district said that she is more worried for her cattle and home than casting her vote as she is hospitalized for more than two months. She suffered multiple fractures when she fell from a gorge while collecting fodder for cattle. Her daughter Sunita, however, said that she and her mother would have definitely voted if things were alright. Ganesh Purohit, a 22-year-old youth of Kotha village of Chamoli district, said that the election commission should make special arrangements so that patients and their attendants could vote.
Purohit is at the bed side of her mother for last one and half months. His mother suffered severe injuries when a bear attacked her near village and was not in the condition to speak.