Assembly Elections: 17 Polling Booths to turn Pink in Udupi District
Udupi: It seems the Election Commission has learnt how to woo women voters. In Karnataka, the EC has set-up several ‘pink’ polling booths across the state to encourage women voters to exercise their democratic rights. Since ‘pink’ colour is generally associated with women, so the EC has designed several pink-coloured theme polling booths in the state.
For the first time in Karnataka, all-woman polling booths will be set up across the 224 constituencies of the State. The Election Commission of India had trialed this idea for the first time in the Assembly elections in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, followed by Gujarat and recently in the northeast.
As many as 17 pink polling booths managed fully by women will be set up during the Assembly elections in Udupi district.
These special booths will be staffed entirely by women – from the presiding officers to the micro-observers and security personnel. This is being done to attract more women to vote.
Gender Study scholars and political analysts have hailed this move, saying that it would encourage more women to come out and vote.
The women staff at these booths will wear pink clothes. The 17 polling booths include 10 in Udupi constituency, two each in Kundapur, Kaup and Karkala, and one in Byndoor.
Udupi constituency has 10 booths they are — Govt. Junior College Peoples Hall, Udupi (West Side), Govt Junior College Peoples Hall (East Wing), Govt. High School Volakadu (South Wing), Govt Higher Primarily School Volakadu (west Side), Govt Higher Primarily School Volakadu (South Side), Christian High School Udupi Main Building (Middle Part), Christian High School Udupi Main Building (Middle Part), Christian High School Udupi Main Building (South Part), St Mary’s English Medium School Kannarapdy (North Wing), St Mary’s English Medium School Kannarapdy (South Wing).
In Byndoor Constituency Grama Panchayat Office Shiroor has been identified as Pink polling Booth. In Kundapur Constituency PVS Sarojini Madhusudhan Khushe Govt High School Voderahobali and Govt Higher Primary School Melkatkere Koni.
In Kaup Community Hall Cum Gram Panchayat office Kurkal and Govt First Grade College Kaup while in Karkala Govt Higher Primary School Pervaje, Karkala (South Wing and North Wing have been identified as Pink Polling Booths.
In addition, a tribal booth will be opened at the Government Higher Primary School polling booth at Ragihakklu in Byndoor constituency. Members of the community are expected to perform tribal dance and display tribal art outside this booth.
A booth manned by the specially-abled persons is planned at the Government Higher Primary School polling booth at Bellur in Kundapur.
Pics used for illustration purpose only
