Srinagar, Apr26: In a display of “Nari Shakti” (women power), exclusively women-staffed booths, known as “pink booths,” witnessed a surge in female voters amidst stringent security measures in the Samba District of the Jammu LokSabha constituency.
The allure of the “pink booths” saw an uptick in female participation, with 69 per cent of voters exercising their franchise as the polling progressed till 7 PM in the second phase of the LokSabha elections.
Zarifa Begum, casting her vote at a ‘pink booth’ in Samba, expressed delight at the initiative, praising the Election Commission’s efforts in attracting more women to polling stations. She remarked, “We are very pleased to cast our votes for the first time at these all-women polling booths. The facilities here are excellent. We are enjoying the voting process.”
With a total of 10 ‘pink booths’ established in the Jammu LokSabha constituency, these stations featured female staff, including police and security personnel, according to officials.
First-time voter Dolvin likened the experience to attending a festival, lauding the booth’s decorations. She believed such initiatives would draw more women to polling booths, ultimately increasing turnout. “It’s an innovative step to boost female turnout,” she added.
In a bid to enhance engagement, the Election Commission installed selfie points at these pink polling booths, with many female voters, especially young women, seen capturing selfies while casting their votes.
In the second phase of polling in Samba district within Jammu division, women voters made a significant impact by turning out in large numbers at various polling stations. Alongside their male counterparts, these women voters voiced their aspirations and concerns, reflecting a diverse range of priorities and issues.
Eager to exercise their right to franchise, women voters revealed their motivations for casting their ballots, which encompassed a range of issues including employment, inflation control, women empowerment, basic amenities, and addressing challenges in border areas.
Sapna, a voter from Sanoora village of Ramgrah Tehsil, highlighted her anticipation for the polling date, emphasizing her vote for tackling inflation and creating employment opportunities for the youth. She emphasized the need for new job avenues for the highly educated youth in the area and urged the winning candidate to address local issues and prioritize development.
KamleshKumari, another voter from Sanoora, expressed concerns about the rising price of cooking gas, emphasizing the impact on households. She also highlighted the issue of unemployment leading to youth involvement in drug abuse, hoping for initiatives to support the youth.
Praveen Sangral, aged 49, from Vijaypur Tehsil, cast her vote with a focus on addressing the issues faced by border residents and advocating for women empowerment. She stressed the importance of empowering women for the nation’s progress, while also calling for inclusion and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Sarika, a resident of Samba, noted that previously women often faced challenges in mixed-gender polling stations while casting their votes, with young women particularly hesitant. However, the introduction of separate stations has left every woman with no option but to cast their votes.
With twenty-two candidates contesting from the constituency, spread across 17 assembly segments of Jammu, Samba, and Reasi districts, along with one assembly constituency in Rajouri district, the electoral landscape reflects both diversity and engagement.in long queues, they expressed delight in voting at the ‘pink booth’.
“We are very pleased to cast our votes for the first time at these all-women polling booths. The facilities here are excellent. We are enjoying the voting process,” remarked Zarifa Begum, who voted at the ‘pink booth’ in Samba. She praised the Election Commission’s initiative, noting that it had attracted more women to the polling station.
A total of 10 ‘pink booths’ were established in the Jammu LokSabha constituency. This model all-women polling stations featured female staff, including police and security personnel, according to officials.
Dolvin, a first-time voter at the ‘pink booth’, likened the experience to attending a festival, given the booth’s decorations. She believed such initiatives would draws more women to polling booths, ultimately increasing turnout. “It’s an innovative step to boost female turnout,” she added.
The Election Commission also installed selfie points at these pink polling booths. Many female voters, especially young women, were seen capturing selfies while casting their votes at these stations.
Previously, women often faced challenges in mixed-gender polling stations while casting their votes, with young women particularly hesitant. However, the introduction of separate stations has left every woman with no option but to cast their votes, said Sarika, a Samba resident.
