Mumbai, A 113-year-old girl and a 103-year-old wheelchair-bound freedom fighter voted within the Maharashtra meeting elections in Mumbai on Wednesday, showcasing their dedication to the democratic course of within the metropolis ill-famous for voter apathy.
A number of octogenarians exercised their franchise in numerous meeting segments in Mumbai since 7 AM, due to amenities comparable to wheelchairs, wheelchair-friendly vans, Divyang-friendly buses, stair-climbing wheelchairs and so on being made accessible at polling cubicles by the Election Fee.
Kanchanben Nandkishor Badshah, a 113-year-old resident of Nepean Sea Highway, went to a polling station at Malabar Hill to train her franchise with the assistance of her kinfolk, a civic official stated.
Although the Election Fee of India has supplied a house voting facility for senior residents above 85 years, 103-year-old wheelchair-bound GG Parikh most popular to forged his vote by visiting the polling station at Girton Excessive College in Grant Highway within the morning hours, a civic official stated.
A neighbour and his housekeeper helped Parikh enter the polling sales space in his wheelchair. The centenarian freedom fighter has been voting since India’s first basic elections in 1951-52, his aides stated.
Many aged voters forged their votes at numerous polling cubicles in Mumbai since morning, reflecting enthusiasm.
Hareshwar Barkale, an 81-year-old resident of Worli Koliwada, famous that the candidate in his constituency had organized for golf carts and taxis to assist senior residents attain the polling stations, whereas wheelchairs and volunteers have been stationed on the cubicles to help them.
“We got precedence on the polling station and didn’t have to attend in line,” Barkale stated.
Equally, 83-year-old Ramchandra Shirke from Kalachowki stated he had no bother casting his vote early within the morning.
The election course of for the Meeting elections started at 7 AM and can conclude at 6 PM, with amenities making certain that senior residents and differently-abled voters face no inconvenience.
Consistent with the Election Fee’s “No Voter Left Behind” initiative, the district administrations in Mumbai Metropolis and its suburbs took intensive measures to make the voting course of accessible.
Regardless of city voter apathy, Mumbai metropolis and Mumbai suburban district registered voter turnouts of 40.89% and 39.34%, respectively, until 3 PM.
Altogether 420 candidates are within the fray for 36 meeting constituencies in Mumbai with greater than 1 crore eligible voters.
As per the civic physique, Mumbai has a complete of 10,117 cubicles situated at 2,085 places, the place voting will start at 7 am and finish at 6 pm.
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