Officers in Tamil Nadu defy the difficulties to bring democracy to the people

In three districts of western Tamil Nadu, election authorities have taken on the difficult job of erecting polling centers in isolated communities and transporting the voting equipment by foot, donkey, and tractor.

 

The officials and personnel of Namakkal constituency hiked over seven kilometers to the 1,200-meter-high Bodha Malai peak in Rasipuram. Two teams of nine people, consisting of election officials, police officers, and sanitation workers, remain on duty at each of the two polling places until the election is over in order to efficiently oversee the voting process.

“The transportation of EVMs by hand, up the rugged terrain, is to ensure that every voter has access to their constitutional right,” Rasipuram Tasildhar S. Saravanan told the TNIE. Two voting places are located in Bodha Malai: Keelur, which has 845 voters, and Kedamali, which has 297 votes.

A neighborhood citizen named Munishwaran T expressed worry about the restricted access, particularly in the event of an emergency. He went on, “The government prioritizes the election process over local infrastructure improvements.”

According to sources, the state government spent ~140 crore on improving Bodha Malai’s transportation infrastructure last year, but it quickly turned its attention to the general election.

In the Dharmapuri district, tractors have been employed for the first time to transport EVMs, VVPATs, and other equipment to Kootur and Erimalai.

For the previous 75 years, donkeys were the sole means of transportation available to carry food and other supplies to Erimalai and Kotturmalai. After inspecting the region and visiting these tribal hamlets two months ago, Collector K Santhi promised to send polling equipment by tractor rather than donkey.

Amounts of ~20 lakh were allotted under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, and dirt roads were repaired so that tractors could readily access the area. The proposal greatly pleased everyone of the 634 voters in the two hamlets. According to voters, the commuting time (on foot) has decreased from 1.5 hours to 45 minutes.

In the meanwhile, on Thursday night, some ten poll workers, together with personnel from the forest and police departments, hiked to the Kadambakuttai tribal settlement in the Bettamugilalam panchayat in the Krishnagiri district with election materials.

There are ninety caste Hindus and tribal people in the hamlet. Along with carrying poll materials, officials hiked about 2.5 kilometers while a donkey also carried some supplies. The community provided basic facilities for the poll workers.