The Ranchi Municipal Corporation (RMC) is slow to show its presence at the educational institutions which are to be the polling booths for the Assembly on Tuesday. Officials of the corporation quote ‘Sunday’ as the reason of this negligence.
State’s oldest Sanskrit College at Harmu affiliated to Vinoba Bhave University (VBU) is facing the worst experience. The hostel of the college where booth numbers 111, 114, 115, 119 and 120 are marked is in a pathetic condition. There is no facility of electricity in around three of these rooms. None have furniture like chair and table. Moreover, the entrance is more a drain and less a lane.
Male students residing in the hostel said that the condition is always the same. “Cows, Buffaloes and Dogs roam here due to the wastes piled up by the locals in front of the gate. We often have to face mosquito bites. Except for tolerating we have no other option. Padhne ke liye Sheher mein jagah toh mil gayi (Atleast, we got a place to stay within the city for our studies),” said two undergraduate students.
Notably, the college is in process of constructing a new building equipped with all the basic facilities and academic blocks. Staffs involved in the construction said the condition has least chances of improvement by the next session when the entire academic session will be carried in the new. “We have tried our best to keep the college premises clean since the classes are going on and two booths will be set here. The hostel vicinity is also clean,” said a staff.
The situation of government’s middle school at Pahadi Tola wherein around 12 booths are made in one of the schools was also similar. Shopkeepers near the school said it remains the same whole year.
When approached about the matter, RMC Mayor Asha lakra said her department makes sure to keep every corner of the city clean. “The wastes must have been deposited today because our waste collectors clean every area on a daily basis. Sunday is a holiday so the wastes have turned into a heap. I assure to clean it by Monday,” lakra maintained.
On the other side, city’s Model Booths like Shree Krishna Institute of Public Administration and Red Cross Society where Governor, DGP and Chief Justice cast their votes are also yet to be managed in the form of a booth. Pieces of wood were kept inside booth number 15 of SKIPA. There was no desk or bench. Caretakers said furniture is kept a day before the polls.