GOALPARA, April 24 - Pleasant surprises were in store for voters when they entered the model polling stations set up at Goalpara, Dudhnoi, Lakhipur and Hasdhoba which were provided with the best of the facilities compared to the regular ones.
Voters recalling their experience told this correspondent that they had a feeling of entering a marriage hall or a birthday party and were amused to see that the designated Model Polling stations were brightly lit like a marriage pandal, beautifully and elegantly decorated with bouquets and rows of balloons. The welcome gate was also decorated with a gamosa and japi and with an arch of balloons. A BLO help desk offering guidance to voters along with other facilities like the waiting room with additional comforts like electric fans and rows of chairs for the voters to sit till their turn came to vote, wheelchair facilities for the elderly and the differently abled, shed for voters standing in queues, drinking water and provisions for creche facilities where a space was provided and toys given to play different games for children coming with their parents to the polling station.
Voters young as well as old were very impressed and clicked selfies at the selfie stand after casting their votes. A few elderly voters who came happily out of the model polling stations also narrated their delightful experience and praised the district administration for such innovations.
Talking to this correspondent, the District Election Officer Varnali Deka said that each of the model polling stations were set up in all the four Assembly segments in the district with the objective to attract more voters for greater participation by voters for a stronger democracy. Deka also was overwhelmed by the decoration, ambience and the facilities provided to the elderly people, differently-abled and creche facilities for children which were quite refreshing for all the voters.
