Son carries mother in arms to cast vote

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 20

A man in his early 50s carried his octogenarian mother in his arms to a polling station at Government Senior Secondary School (Girls), Bhargo Camp to cast vote on the last day of the LS elections yesterday. His mother was not in a condition to even talk and sit properly, but his son, who is a labourer, made sure that like previous years, his mother casts her vote in the Lok Sabha elections too.

But this scenario certainly refuted the claims that were made by the district administration that wheelchairs will be provided in all 1,863 booths of the district.

Despite the absence of any wheelchair, her son did not complain. It seemed that they have already accepted the fact that this is how they have to cast their votes, in the same manner they have been doing it in the past years.

It was the situation at one of the ‘model’ polling stations. One of the BLOs at the booth said it was a model polling station which sans wheelchairs.

Same was the situation at Lyallpur Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Nakodar Road, a model polling booth, Government Senior Secondary School, Bhargo Camp (Boys), and other stations.

State coordinator of PwDs and expert member of the Punjab State Divyangjan Advisory Board Amarjit Singh Anand said the next time, the district administration must make sure that there was ample wheelchairs reserved for elections.

“The arrangements were not up to the mark. Schools in rural areas are worst. We had been getting complaints of unavailability of wheelchairs, hence, were asking our AROs and BLOs to provide the same. However, people appreciated the pick and drop facilities,” he said.

Vivek Joshi, the district icon of the PwD, said there was no proper management.

“Proper support from the district administration was lacking,” he said.

“Number of ramps was also less,” he said.

Though physically challenged voters faced difficulties at many places, elderly too reached the place and voted with the help of their relatives. Indra Devi (90) came with his son to one of the polling stations at Model House. Unable to move properly, she did not prefer to sit at home and rest. Instead, she came walking with much difficulty, cast her vote and left with his son.

His son while talking to The Tribune said: “She never misses any chance to exercise her right to franchise. She has difficulty in walking but still every time she insists that no matter what she would come to cast her vote.

Though there was no provision of wheelchair where Indra Devi came to cast her vote, police officials along with family members of the elderly were making sure that they extend a helping hand to the needy.

Kartaro Devi (89) had also come with her son and daughter-in-law. After casting the vote, she rested by sitting on the benches there. Her daughter-in-law said her mother-in-law was excited since the morning and she sees the polling say as a day of happiness and power.