Special Polling Station for 102 Nomad voters
Avtar Bhat
SAMBA, Apr 26: The enthusiastic voters in border belt of Ramgarh in Samba district which is part of Jammu-Reasi Parliamentary constituency that went to polls along with 88 constituencies of the country in second phase of polling today, said they voted for New and Vibrant India and development.
Almost all voters who had gathered in front of various polling booths near Zero Line in Ramgarh Sector for voting today were of the same opinion. They said the situation in border belt has completely changed with a good network of roads and construction of bridges to ease the transportation of border people in the area.
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“No earlier Governments took such an interest in developing the border areas as we saw in last 10 years”, said Kushal Kumar of Rakh Kangwal in border belt of Ramgarh area who was standing in front of the Polling Booth A -Rakh Kangwal to cast his vote.
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“Lot of development took place in the border belt during last 10 years which we had never dreamt. Besides, many welfare schemes were launched for people like Ladli Beti, Ayushman Bharat, women reservation, Vishwakarma Yojna for village artisans and traders that can’t be ignored, So we voted for development and prosperity of people and strengthening the nation to build new and vibrant India”, he added.
Manjit Singh, a 20-year-old first time voter who too was waiting for his turn to cast vote in a queue in front of Polling Booth number 084 at Rakh Kangwal A said that he is also satisfied with the development which took place in entire area. There were two Polling Booths in this village housed in a Government School
There were 1121 total votes on this booth out of which 748 were polled by 3.20 pm in which the female voters had outnumbered their male counterparts. While the number of male who had polled the vote by that time was 345, the number of female voters was 403 and still over 100 voters both men and women were seen in queues outside the polling booth.
Babu Ram, son of Kali Dass resident of Kangwal, an 88-year-old man was the first to cast his vote at 7am when the polling started, said the Presiding Officer of the Polling Booth. He said Ram had reached the polling booth 20 minutes in advance the polling started and he was the first person to cast his vote. The enthusiastic people were seen still coming to Polling Booth to cast their vote.
Kamlesh Kumari, a middle aged woman who came out after casting her vote said the vote is her democratic right and she exercised this right to elect a Government at national level which can frame better policies and plans for the development of nation and prosperity of its people. In response to a question whether she has any reservation about the present Government, she replied. “Why should she have, it (Government) gave free ration to us, relieved us of cross border firing, launched Ladli Beti Scheme, gave Ayushman Card to every citizen of J&K who can get free treatment up to Rs five lakh. So why should we have any grievance about the Government”?
Shano Devi another woman who had returned after casting her vote from this Polling Booth also had the same views. She said “Earlier when Wheat crop in this border belt was about to reap during this season, people had to leave their homes and hearths for safety due to firing from across the border. “But we heaved a sigh of relief under present Government as border firing has stopped and we are residing in our houses peacefully besides cultivating the land which we could not do so easily prior to 2014”, she added.
At Polling Booth number 85 B Rakh Kangwal in the same School out of 789 votes 564 were polled by 3-20 pm. At this Polling Booth the number of male and female voters who had cast their vote was almost equal including 283 male voters and 280 females.
Huge rush of voters was seen in front of both Polling Booths in Bainglar Camp Polling Station in border belt of Ramgarh which were housed in Government Girls High School. Hundreds of men and women voters were seen in front of both Polling Booths in long queues waiting for their turn to cast the vote at 4 pm. Out of total 936 votes 554 were polled by 4 pm. Here too the women had outnumbered men in casting their vote.
While the number of male electorates who had cast their vote by 4pm was 260, the number of women was 294. Bagh Singh, a youth voter who was standing in front of the polling booth, said “We stand and voted for that party and man who made this country strong. I am not bothered what I got but my nation should be strong. When nation is strong every countryman is secure and safe. This is our priority,” he added.
However, views of some voters in the border belt also differed. Some projected the growing unemployment problem a concern for them and hence wanted a change in the system. Rahul Atri, an NIT student who was standing in a queue in front of Polling Booth at PS Bainglad said the growing unemployment, price hike especially of petrol and diesel and politics of hate has been the concern and hence there should be a change.
He was supported by Masrat, a 26 year old woman voter who too wanted a change this time saying relieving people of the price rise and growing unemployment are not a priority for this Government.
However, Lucky Kumar another youth said people of border are leading a peaceful life and they don’t have to get uprooted as was happening in past due to firing from across the border.
At Bangdour Polling Station housed in Middle School Bangdour also in border belt of Ramgarh, both men and women were seen in long queue at 4-20 pm to cast their vote. Out of 1177 voters, 687 had cast their vote by that time including 381 females and 306 male. Charan Dass, an old man who was sitting in front of a queue at this Polling Booth, said casting vote is a democratic right to every Indian citizen granted by the Constitution.
“It empowers us to elect the Government which can take best decisions in the national interests”. He said vote is secret and we should cast the vote by maintaining secrecy.
At Polling Station Number 69 Regal, Ramgarh near Zero Line out of 296 votes 236 were cast by 3pm. They included 122 female and 114 male voters. No rush was seen at this Polling Station because the number of voters was less. The polling staff at this booth was also seen relaxed.
For the first time, a Polling Station was established at Papar Avtara in Mansar area of Samba district for 102 Nomadic voters. 58 percent polling was exercised at this Polling Station by 12 pm. The voters here were highly praising the Election Commission of India (ECI) for establishing a Polling Station for them. Mohammed Shafi, a voter said that they stayed here for casting the vote only. Otherwise by this period of the year they would have left for pastures with their cattle in higher reaches. Mohammed Kaif, 18, a first time voter was feeling excited to cast his vote for first time at this Polling Booth.
Besides, seven Pink polling stations were established in Samba where women staff was deployed for duty. They included seven in Samba and one each in Ramgarh and Vijaypur. The EVM at Kufi Polling Station in Samba district developed a snag in the morning and the polling was halted for half an hour. However it started after the machine was restored and later it went smoothly.
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