EC to set up 90 model polling stations in Cooch Behar

The Election Commission (EC) has decided to set up around 90 model polling stations in the Cooch Behar district to provide better amenities to the people. Model polling stations will be set up in many other districts as well.

One of the main purposes behind the setting up of model polling stations was to encourage people in exercising their franchise in the state. To make people visit the polling stations in large numbers, the EC had taken several initiatives and stressed emphasis on the betterment of electoral infrastructure so that the polling could be conducted in a better way.

For the elderly and physically challenged people the Commission had set up more number of polling booths at the ground floor of the buildings. Ramps will be set up at various polling booths. Cooch Behar was given special attention to encourage the new voters residing at the enclaves that were recently transferred into the Indian territories. The names of the new voters at all the 51 enclaves were already enrolled in the electoral process and they will cast their votes for the first time since the independence of the country.

According to a senior official of the commission some facilities will be available in the model polling stations so that voters in the interior villages do not face any problems during the polls at their respective Assembly constituencies.

The District Administration has already taken up all the necessary arrangements to start 90 model polling stations in Cooch Behar. P Ulaganathan, the District Magistrate of Cooch Behar who is also the District Election Officer inaugurated a model polling station in the district. In the enclaves which were incorporated to the Cooch Behar district having a large number of population, the model polling stations will be set up. According to a senior administrative official in the district, the model polling stations would be set up at the SDO, BDO offices and also at the enclaves incorporated to Cooch Behar that has the highest number of voters. Various workshops were being organised by the District administration so that the new voters do not face any problems while casting their votes. The EC started up the process of ensuring voting rights to over 14,000 residents of erstwhile Indo-Bangladesh enclaves who have acquired Indian citizenship. EC on March 4 was vested with power to carry out delimitation exercise in the Cooch Behar district to put them in various Assembly segments.