GUWAHATI, April 11 - Hoping to see a government of their choice as well as to register their democratic rights as citizens of India, women enthusiastically took part in the second phase of the Assembly elections today. Women also managed eight all-women polling stations this time in Kamrup Metro.
Reasons may vary for 81-year old Suprity Gogoi, who has been casting vote since the first State Assembly election, and for first-timer Nazneen Middya, but a great sense of responsibility was the common and driving force for voting. �Gone are the days when women were less interested in the game of power or toed the lines of the family head to decide for them, while casting their votes,� said Nazneen. Octogenarian Suprity Gogoi of Guwahati Club said though disillusioned sometimes, she never belittled the power of her vote. �We can make the leaders accountable only by voting,� she added.
The eight all-women polling stations in Kamrup Metro district further symbolised increasing stake of women in the democratic exercise. The TC Government Girls� High School had two all-women polling stations. Presiding officer of polling station number 139 Renu Bala Rabha summed up her experience as exhausting yet fulfilling. �We could manage the polling very smoothly with 70.12 per cent vote till 3 pm. The five woman members of my team have been managing efficiently. There are 850 voters under this polling station and 596 have exercised their rights by 3 pm,� she added.
The other all-women polling station (No 140) developed some technical problem initially, but it was resolved. �Of 954 voters, 263 male and 269 female voters voted by 3 pm,� said presiding officer Jaya Rani Kalita. �A better sensitisation of voter is needed regarding the use of EVMs as some of them tend to press the buttons for very long, that created a problem today,� she added.
Casting her vote at Gandhi Nagar Girls� High School, Dipanjali Goswami seized the first opportunity of her right to vote. �We follow politics through media and peer discussions. Voting is my democratic right and my responsibility too,� she added.
Social media too influenced the voters, especially the young ones, as many of them turned up at the polling stations to flaunt the pictures on their social networking sites. �There is nothing wrong in it, so far it helps the cause,� said Asma Jahan, at the South Sarania Primary School polling centre. �People flaunt all and sundry on such sites. It�s better to share something meaningful, like your finger marked with indelible ink,� she said.
