Amapati May 16: The By-election to the 2-Tura Parliamentary constituency witnessed the first ever Model Polling Station at Ampati in South West Garo Hills.
Following the directive of the Election Commission of India to facilitate hassle free voting on the polling day, the District Election Office transformed the existing polling station at Ampati Upper Primary School into a Model Polling Station complete with all voter friendly facilities and amenities.
It may be mentioned that according to the Commission’s directive, every polling station should have these basic minimum facilities – provision for ramp, provision for drinking water, proper entry and exit, adequate furniture, proper lighting, help desk, toilet and proper signage. Not only were these facilities put in place to create this model polling station, but the District Election Office of South West Garo Hills went a step further and created poll day crèche for children in the polling station.
Carrying a child in arm and standing in queue to cast their votes can be tiresome for mothers, therefore the District Election Office came up with the idea of poll day crèche for children who accompany their mothers carried in arms. The crèche also had toys for the children to play with and the Anganwadi workers took care of the children as their mothers took their turns to vote.
As the Election Commission attaches much importance to the voter participation and facilitation, the district Election authorities hoped that having this model polling station would set an example for others to have voter friendly environment in every polling station in the district.
