Jind, March 23
“Hum kiyon banave apni chhori ka vote, ye to shadi karke chali jayegi. Badiya yehi hai ki ye shaadi ke baad apne sasural main hi apna vote banave (why should we get our daughter enrolled as a voter as she will have to migrate to her in-laws’ after her marriage. It’ll be better if she gets herself enrolled as a voter there only),” said Braha Khurd resident Ganga Devi (85).

The statement is reflective of not only Ganga Devi’s mindset, but also of rural Haryana about their unmarried daughters. When asked if there was any other reason behind such a practice, most people replied in the negative.

Majority of the women in this district also believe if they got themselves enrolled at their parents’ house, they will face difficulty in exercising their right to vote at their in-laws’ house.

“Most of us have not got our daughters enrolled as voters because we do not want to see them face any trouble in future. After their marriage, it will be impossible for them to come to this village to cast their votes in every election,” said Murti, 75.

“Poll officers visit our houses repeatedly, but we do not get our daughters enrolled because we think it should be done only after their marriage,” said Hari Krishan, a farmer from Pandu Pindara village.

The effect of this mindset is clearly visible on the poll-related figures for Jind district. The district has a population of around 13.78 lakh, out of which 6.41 lakh are women. But the number of women voters is just around 3.83 lakh. The figure could go up substantially if all parents in the district get their eligible unmarried daughters enrolled as voters.

“The girls here face not only female foeticide, honour killing and other social problems, but they also face discrimination on the issue of voting right,” said Sunita, student of a girls’ college.

“A large number of girls in this district cannot vote as their parents do not allow them to enrol as voters,” said Ishika, another girl student.