Even for few voters, polling staff to cover huge distance
Helicopter only mode to reach many polling stations
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Apr 7: High altitude is responsible for most of their difficulties in day-to-day life but is not a barrier of any sort for participation in the largest democratic exercise as Election Commission of India doesn’t mind making huge expenditure to facilitate massive participation in the carnival of its own kind.
Come May 6, 2019, the inhabitants of many villages and hamlets situated at an altitude between 14,000 and 15,000 feet above the sea level in the cold desert region of Ladakh will overcome all the difficulties, which they encounter often, to exercise their franchise in the elections for the lone Parliamentary seat.
Unlike plain areas of the State, the temperature in these villages and hamlets perched on the top of the mountains will be still cold but people are enthusiastically waiting for the day with the hope that their new representative in the Parliament will ensure that high altitude no more creates impediments in meeting their development related requirements.
In order to ensure that high altitude doesn’t create any hurdle for the people of such villages to cast votes for the Ladakh Parliamentary constituency, the Election Commission of India through Chief Electoral Officer J&K Shailendra Kumar and District Election Officers (DEOs) of Leh and Kargil has established numerous polling stations in these villages itself.
Moreover, adequate arrangements have been made for deployment of polling staff along with sufficient number of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and security personnel for smooth participation in the carnival of democracy. To reach several high-altitude polling stations, the polling staff will have to cover huge distance on foot or will be flown to these areas in the helicopters.
As per the data provided by the District Election Officer Leh Avny Lavasa, there are 81 voters-37 males and 44 females for Anlay Phoo, which fall in the category of highest polling station. For another such polling station namely Anlay Phunguk, there are 246 voters—115 males and 131 females.
For third highest polling station namely Phirtsey, there are 87 voters-41 males and 46 females. To reach this polling station, polling parties will have to avail helicopter service and cover some distance on foot. Chumoor having 82 voters and Anlay with 347 voters also fall in the list of highest polling stations in Leh district.
The polling parties will reach a day before the major democratic exercise and stay in the tents, the arrangements for which will be made by the District Election Officer.
As far as Kargil district is concerned, majority of the polling stations at highest elevation fall in Zanskar Assembly constituency. Shun Chumik Gyalsa is on the top of list of such polling stations with 124 voters—53 males and 71 female. Shaday is the second high altitude polling station with merely 48 voters—26 males and 22 females.
Ralakung in the only high altitude polling station which has minimum number of voters. Only 22 voters—-10 males and 12 females will cast votes at this polling station. The other polling stations in Zanskar which are at highest elevation are Kargiak (66 voters) and Ichu (108 voters).
In Kargil Assembly constituency, the highest polling stations are Sapi with 415 voters, Pachari with 76 voters, Kukshow with 338 voters and Batambis with 284 voters.
As per the official sources, almost all the voters of the villages and hamlets perched on top of the mountains in Leh and Kargil districts cast their votes in each and every election as they understand the importance of this democratic exercise.
“Their participation is irrespective of canvassing by the candidates contesting the elections in their respective areas”, they added, adding “it is a matter of satisfaction that voters of high altitude villagers are not required to be educated about the importance of their votes.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
