Saturday, April 26, 2025

Plight of polling officers

Date:

Share post:

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: They have to trek at least 9 km to reach Thieddieng Nongbah polling station in Mawsynram in East Khasi Hills.

The poling officers, both men and women, also have to travel 8 km on foot carrying EVMs to reach another inaccessible area of Nongshluid also in Mawsynram.

Some polling parties have to trek 7 km to reach Nongjri Wahskong polling station at Pynursla in East Khasi Hills, while some women including lactating mothers have to carry their small kids along with them for the poll duty in Garo

Hills.

There are also far flung polling stations under Mawkynriew in East Khasi Hills like Pynkya (5.5 km on foot), Rangphlang (5 km) and Khapmaw ( 4.5 km).

The plight of polling personnel is many. There is an instance where some women polling officers are accommodated along with security personnel for election duty, especially in Garo Hills.

There are also allegations that there has been lack of sufficient training to the polling officers which may result in improper handling of EVMs and electoral rolls during the polls.

When contacted, an election official said if there are complaints, the matter should be brought to the notice of electoral officers.

However, it is too late for such complaints as the polling officers with all the difficulties have no other option at the last moment but to faithfully carry out the call of duty for the ‘triumph of democracy’.

The challenges for the polling officers do not end in trekking long distances alone. Another serious cause of worry in certain polling stations in Ri Bhoi, West Garo Hills and South Garo Hills is the encroachment of wild elephants.

There are as many as 184 polling stations which are declared as sensitive due to the trouble following the rampage of tusked mammoths. Some polling stations in in Ampati, where the Chief Minister is contesting, are also prone to the attack of the elephants .

Election Officials said that polling officers had been sent to trouble torn polling stations much in advance especially during the day, so that they can settle down and take precautionary measures.

The electoral officers have already sought the assistance of forest staff to help the men in polling stations in case of any elephant attack .

Another cause of concern is the fear of militants disrupting the election in certain hyper sensitive polling stations especially in Garo Hills. However, to check this, adequate security personnel will be camping in and around such vulnerable polling stations.

Related articles

SRH all but end CSK’s chances

Chennai, April 25: Pacer Harshal Patel made the best use of a sluggish Chepauk surface as Sunrisers Hyderabad...

Railway infra, Kashmiri Pandits on terror target; security forces on alert

Srinagar, April 24: Security forces are on high alert after inputs suggested that terrorists are “actively planning” an...

Houses of 2 LeT terrorists bombed

Srinagar, April 25: The house of two Lashkar-e-Taiba (Let) terrorists, including the prime suspect of the Pahalgam terror...

Abhinav claims hat-trick as Meghalaya beat Arunachal

1st Little Masters Trophy Shillong, April 25: Abhinav Khanal took a hat-trick to set up a comprehensive seven-wicket victory...