>Election authorities have set up 8 Pink Polling Stations staffed specially by women
> 8 Red for PwDs; 8 Blue for youth; 8 Green & environmentally sustainable
> Idea to convey message to half of the population about their role & responsibility in democratic exercise
>Voters to experience a festive-like environment, promote inclusivity in democratic process
SRINAGAR: In order to celebrate the festival of democracy in 02-Srinagar Parliamentary constituency with mass participation of voters, the District Election Office Srinagar has made Polling Stations colourfully vibrant with specially with Polling Stations conveying special message regarding women, Persons with Disabilities, (PwD) and Youth besides environmentally viable and sustainable Polling Stations.
The District Election Authority Srinagar has enhanced the essence of Polling Stations through different colours with multifarious messages to facilitate the voters on the Poll day and welcome them to experience a festive-like environment, besides promoting participatory and inclusive voting in Srinagar.
Speaking about the initiative, the District Election Officer(DEO), Srinagar, Dr. Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat, who is also the Returning Officer (RO), 02-Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency said that the District Election Office Srinagar has established eight (8) Pink Polling Stations specially for Women in different areas of Srinagar from Hazratbal Anchar to Central Sheltang which were painted in Pink colour, denoting Nari Shakti. He said these Polling Station would be managed by all Women staff comprising BLOs, Presiding & Polling Officers, Police and security forces manning the polling stations.
The DEO said that the idea behind setting up these special Polling Stations is to convey a message to half of the population about their role and responsibility in this democratic exercise besides driving home the point that women are capable of discharging duties in any sphere of life.
The DEO further added that, eight Red Polling Stations have been set up for persons with disabilities which will be staffed by differently abled persons thus bringing out inclusivity.
These Polling Stations equipped with Wheelchairs, Ramps, Braille script and other features also infuse confidence into differently abled to make voting process a smooth activity for them. “Again the idea is to instil confidence among the section and encourage them to vote wherever they are besides increasing sensitation about their issues,” said the District Election Officer.
The DEO also said that additionally, individuals with disability of more than 40 percent have already been given the opportunity to cast vote under ECI’s initiative of Vote from Home. The three-day campaign for Home Voting which was flagged on May 07, 2024 by the District Election Officer concluded today in the District.
To focus on the importance of youth, the DEO said, eight Polling Stations have been painted in Blue across Srinagar District.
The DEO observed that while democracy will be triumphing through active participation of people, the environmental sustainability would be put to focus by creating awareness among the people and instilling a sense of responsibility among them. “To foster the cause of environmental sustainability, eight Polling Stations have been coloured green while plantation activity shall be carried out on the polling day by the first voter”, the DEO said and added, “These Polling stations shall also be plastic free “.
Pertinently, in all the general Polling Stations, facilities for public convenience including drinking water, toilets, electricity, wheelchairs and ramps besides a help desk have been put up for smooth and successful voting across Srinagar as per ECI guidelines on Assured Minimum Facilities.
It is also worth mentioning that about 17.50 lakh electorates are going to decide the fate of the 24 candidates in the fray for the Lok Sabha polls in 02-Srinagar Lok Sabha seat. On May 13, 2024. Among these over 2 lakh are the first-time voters, who are in the age group of 18-20 and will be exercising their franchise for the first time on the poll day in 02-Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency.
The 02-Srinagar Parliamentary Constituency has 2135 Polling Stations in all 18 Assembly Segments comprising 17-Kangan and 18-Ganderbal, 19-Hazratbal, 20-Khanyar, 21-Habbakadal, 22-LalChowk, 23-Chanapora, 24-Zadibal, 25-Eidgah 26-Central Shalteng, 29-Khansahib, 30-Char-i-Sharief, 31-Chadoora, 32-Pampore, 33-Tral, 34-Pulwama, 35-Rajpora and 37-Shopian.
52,100 Kashmiri migrants eligible to vote
As many as 52,100 Kashmiri migrant voters across the country are eligible to exercise their franchise in the fourth phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir’s Srinagar constituency on May 13.
The constituency is gearing up for an intense electoral showdown. As many as 17.4 lakh voters, including 8.7 lakh women, will decide the fate of 24 candidates in the fray.
Over 1.13 lakh Kashmiri migrants are registered to cast their votes for the Lok Sabha elections for three seats in the Valley, officials said.
“As many as 52,100 Kashmiri migrants will exercise their right to franchise from Srinagar Lok Sabha constituency on May 13. Of these, 25,760 are male voters and 26,340 are female voters,” Assistant Returning Officer (ARO), Migrants, Riaz Ahmed told PTI Video here.
He said there are 1,13,873 registered voters, including 56,290 men, 57,582 women and one transgender person, in three parliamentary constituencies of Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag.
A total of 26 polling stations have been set up for the migrants, out of which 21 are in Jammu, four in Delhi and one in Udhampur.
“We have set up 21 polling stations in Jammu. In view of the increase in voters, we have to set up some more axillary polling stations. For the Srinagar constituency, we have increased them to 23 polling stations,” Ahmed said.
The Election Commission (EC) has arranged pick and drop facility for Kashmiri migrant voters. It will be available from 6 am to 6 pm, he said.
“The transport facility will be available where there is more concentration of migrant voters on polling dates,” he said.
Special awareness camps were held in Jammu, Udhampur and Delhi to ensure maximum participation of Kashmiri migrants in elections.
“There is an increase in the number of the voters registered for the polls in these elections as compared to the past,” he said.
There are two ways for migrant voters to cast their votes.
“First, they can do so by filling up an M-form, which is prior information and can vote in the special polling set up for them,” Ahmed said.
The second option is voting through postal ballots for which they have to fill up Form-12C.
The high-stakes contest has attracted a diverse array of candidates from various political parties and independent groups, each vying to capture the imagination of the electorate with their respective agendas and promises.
The prominent candidates are Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi of the National Conference (NC) and Waheed-ur-Rehman Parra of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
J&K Apni Party’s Muhammad Ashraf Mir, Democratic Progressive Azad Party’s Amir Bhat, J&K National Panthers Party (BHIM) candidate Hakikat Singh, Loktantrik Party’s Rubina Akhter and 18 Independents are also in the fray.
