The first citizen of the State Governor Dr Syed Ahmed is set to cast his vote alongwith several others in an Air conditioned (AC) polling booth with facilities like Gulaab jal (Rose water), perfume spray and sharbat enjoying the privilege of voting in model booths.
But for many voters staying in the heart of the city polling may not be a ‘beautiful’ experience as they have to vote in old dilapidated buildings with dusky ground, dry leaves and hay to greet them.
Although to encourage voters the officeof the Chief Electoral Officer has asked the presiding officers to make elaborate arrangements at the polling station, but lack of toilets, drinking water facility and shade in some polling stations would definitely cause inconvenience.
When the pioneer visited some of the polling centers on Tuesday, the appalling state of buildings and lack of promised facility were evident at many places. The worst condition was seen at polling station number 112, 113, 116 and 120 situated at Kumhar toli (Harmu) locality.
At polling centre 112 and 113 inside Government Sanskrit College, its Principal Dr BK Mishra appeared to be annoyed with the presiding officers’ lethargic behaviour . “Is it my duty to look after the polling preparednessIJ The officers have asked me to get the campus clean and make basic arrangements and in return will pay for the service. How can I get the work done without staffIJ” he said.
He further added, “I have asked them to get their work done on their own. Election is at hand and no arrangements have been done yet. In Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) Ward Counselor election also the scenario was same.”
Interestingly, to lure the voters for the first time in Jharkhand as many as 207 model booths have been placed in state capital with all facilities to see that the entire process is over within couple of minutes with good ambiance. Moreover, in regular polling centers basic amenities such as clean drinking water, proper toilets, parking space, shade and ramp for disable was to be arranged.
Elections for six seat in the state- Giridih, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Singhbum and Khunti is going for poll on today and according to the officers of the Chief Electoral office polling station preparedness is complete.
Meanwhile, District Election Officer (DEO) Vinay Kumar Choubey responding to query on pathetic polling station commented, “I am not aware about it. I will ask the officials to look into it and take step accordingly.”