Srinagar, May 04: With the resounding success of pink polling stations in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, the administration is now focused on beautifying the pink polling station in the Lok Sabha constituency for North Kashmir.
Under the directives of the Chief Election Officer of Jammu and Kashmir, every polling station in North Kashmir is undergoing beautification in preparation for the elections scheduled on May 20th. In addition to pink polling stations, several others, including green, unique, and model polling stations, have been introduced.
These pink polling stations, exclusively staffed by women, have proven successful in maintaining a vibrant atmosphere, prompting efforts to enhance their aesthetic appeal. Furthermore, model polling stations with additional infrastructure and unique polling stations in distinctive villages of North Kashmir have been established. One such unique polling station, located at Hatchimarg in Handwara, is known for producing a special variety of tomatoes sold nationwide.
Advocate Ulfat Mir, commenting on the initiative, remarked, “Setting up pink polling stations is a remarkable step towards women’s empowerment. By ensuring all-female staff, these stations provide a safe and inclusive environment for women to exercise their democratic rights. This initiative addresses the concerns of women who previously felt uneasy in mixed-gender polling stations. Female voters are thrilled about this novel experience, marking a significant step towards gender equality in the electoral process.”
In every assembly segment, the Election Commission has established a pink polling station, many of which have been beautified, with the rest undergoing the process. Additionally, selfie points will be installed at these pink polling stations.
Humaira Nabi, expressing her views, stated, “Pink booths have excelled in all aspects, making voting easier and safer for women. This initiative plays a major role in the era of female empowerment. These booths have significantly increased the female turnout, especially among Muslim women, thereby enhancing the democratic process.”
