With the State capital going to vote in the fifth round of the general elections 2019 on May 6, the entire Ranchi constituency is busy gearing up for the same. Ranchi has a total of over 18 lakh voters with more than 9.7 lakh male and 8.8 lakh female voters. Keeping the safety of the female voters as a priority, special polling booths are being made this election season in the State Capital.
Ranchi district will have a total of 21 women polling booths. Splitting them up constituency wise, Ranchi will have 2, Hatia will have 11 and Kanke will have 8 polling booths.
“There is a reason why these women’s polling booths are being made this time. There were reports of some untoward incidents, which had happened in the last polls. In these places the number of such cases reported were high, so separate booths have been made this time,” said an official from the Ranchi Deputy Commissioner’s office.
The major difference between a normal polling booth and a women’s polling booth is that these booths will have all- women staff including presiding officers, polling officers, micro observers and security personnel.
“Women only polling booths are being made with the perspective of increasing the turnout of the female voters in the city. This is a confidence building message to the women voters to come out and cast their vote,” said Divyanshu Jha, Deputy Development Commissioner, Ranchi.
These booths are aimed not only to empower women but to also increase their participation in the election process. “Women were not keen to be a part of polling duty. This will also convey a message that the administration is committed to provide the necessary facilities required to the polling personnel and encourage them to be a part of the process. This is also being done to increase the partnership and membership with the polling personnel and there are plans of expanding this in future,” added the DDC.
Apart from being manned completely by women, these booths will also have additional facilities. Amenities like a separate waiting area for women and a crèche will be there for those accompanying children. The decorations will also be done like that of a festival.
At the booths apart from the assured minimum facilities, there will be chairs provided for the elderly, shady areas to prevent heat strokes, sign- ages and properly demarcated rows for male and female voters.