April 17 will be a special ‘grooming day’ for the female voters of the State capital as the polling for 16th lok Sabha elections are scheduled here on this date. The ladies have decided to finish household work early and dress well so that they can cast vote in their booths on time.
Also, they want to accompany to the booths with their husbands and relatives. “last year I voted for civic polls in Ranchi. Before that I had voted in 2009 for 15th lok Sabha elections. Being a lady it is important to maintain with a little bit of make up and decent dress while going to the booth. Neighbours like elderly women and men observe daughter-in-laws and daughters who make sure to cast their votes and accordingly express opinions,” resident of Hinoo’s Shukla Colony, Sunita Prasad said.
Housewife Sapna Jain of Main Road’s Vishnu lane said that she would take bath early and serve breakfast to her children by 6:45 am so that she is able to be among the first voters of her booth.
“These days the sun is at peak by 9am. It becomes difficult to move out of the home during the daytime hours. The time for voting starts at 7am. I will apply sunscreen protecting from extreme tan and prickly heat powder so that after casting vote we ladies can gossip for few minutes outside the booth in this scorching heat,” she said.
Notably, for the women of lohardaga, Koderma, Chatra and Palamau where the first polling phase was held on April 10, voting day was marked a “happy festival.” Government employee Angika Shree who casted her vote for the first time under Palamau constituency said, “It is difficult for girls of Maoist affected areas to commute outside at any time of the day. We went to the polling booths in groups and had a good night sleep on April 9. This helped us in waking up early and reaching the booth in a fresh mood.”
Similar to Shree, Minu Agarwal, vice-president of a local charitable organization of Namkum said, “The awareness on voting this time was carried for a long time. I thought if this awareness can be so pleasing then why not please ourselves by dressing well with a presentable face while casting vote. Media photojournalists click the snaps of ladies who are attractive. I want to be eye catchy for such mediapersons.”