From Our Correspondent
GUWAHATI: Women voters far outnumbered men in the overall polling percentage in Hailakandi district that falls under Karimganj (SC) Parliamentary constituency in Assam. Election to the constituency was held on Thursday (April 18) in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections.
During the polling on Thursday, women voters recorded overall 77.81 per cent turnout in the district in comparison to 49.72 per cent of men’s. Of the total 2,28,750 women voters, 1,77,999 turned out to exercise their franchise. Algapur LAC in the district witnessed the highest poll percentage of women voters at 83.17 followed by Katlicherra LAC at 77.50 per cent and Hailakandi LAC at 73.15 per cent.
The district recorded an overall 63.03 per cent voting. There are eight LACs under Karimganj (SC) Parliamentary constituency out of which three fall in Hailakandi district.
Earlier, the Deputy Commissioner and the District Election Officer (DEO) Keerthi Jalli spearheaded the ‘SVEEP’ing initiatives and visited different parts of the district to appeal to the women voters to come out and vote.
Jalli toured remote and far flung areas of the district falling under South Hailakandi development block to urge the women voters to make their presence felt in a big way on polling day.
Coinciding with the festival of colours, Holi, Jalli played holi with the married Bengali women voters and gifted shakha (bangles) to them. She went from door to door appealing to them to vote.
In order to woo women voters and to inculcate hygiene on menstrual cycle, the administration distributed sanitary pads free of cost.
Believing in women power and to sensitise women voters, various spoprts events were organised in which young girls and sportswomen participated.
Saas-Bahu Sanmelan, Aideur Chora and Chandraprabha were also organised.
For the convenience of women voters, six women polling stations were set up, two each in the three LACs.
Lauding the efforts of the district administration to increase the overall percentage of women voters, political observers point out that women are likely to play a decisive role in the upcoming general elections.
Data from the Election Commission of India showed that the average turnout in general elections increased significantly in 2014 and the gender gap in terms of voter turnout was also lowest in the last general elections since Independence.
Yet another innovative idea to attract the voters was by offering lucrative discounts on products, accommodation, medicine, gold making charges and in food outlets.