Pune Gears Up for Polling Day, Arrangements Made from Drinking Water to ORS
Pune Gears Up for Polling Day, Arrangements Made from Drinking Water to ORS
The district collector examined all necessary arrangements made for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls in Pune city.
3 May 2024
Ever since 2004, Lok Sabha election polls have spanned over the summer months of May and June for India. Keeping in mind the ever increasing heat, the election commission had laid down certain recommendations to tend to any mishap that occurs on account of the heat while people vote in their respective constituencies.
These include:
- Place polling places on ground level
- Voters should not have to go more than two kilometres to cast their ballots
- Provide water to drink and disposable, eco-friendly glasses
- Make sure voting places have covered spaces
- Give voters and poll workers oral rehydration salts (ORS)Â
- Make a handbill explaining what to do and not to do in the event of heat stroke for poll workers
- Make a request of voters to bring damp towels in order to prevent dehydration
Subsequently, authorities have started reviewing the sufficiency of the arrangements made at polling booths in Pune as a prerequisite measure as the day of voting nears.
In light of the scorching heat, Pune Collector Dr. Suhas Diwase instructed that appropriate preparations be made for voters at the polling places, stressing the importance of meticulous planning.
Speaking at a review meeting organised in relation to the preparation for the national elections, he directed that aid should be taken from municipal health workers in cities and Anganwadi workers in villages.
He added that accessibility of electrolytes, fluids, water and other hydrating liquids should be ensured and in case of a heatstroke, separate sitting spaces should be arranged — the same also applies to women, differently abled and senior citizens.
While talking about voter ticket distribution, he emphasised on giving special attention to urban areas where polling stations are less in number and that everyone in the society should be cooperative in distribution of the tickets, while also working towards informing everyone about polling stations via the voter assistance centre.
District Collector Dr. Suhas Diwase has issued preventive orders for 100 metres of the polling stations on 7th May in Baramati and on 13th May in Pune, Maval and Shirur Lok Sabha constituencies in order to conduct the entire Lok Sabha election process in the district in an atmosphere of peace, fearlessness and justice.
It is forbidden for non-voters to enter voting places within 100 metres of them on 7th May in the Baramati Lok Sabha Constituency and 13th May from 6 am till the end of polling in the Pune, Maval and Shirur Lok Sabha Constituencies. Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code, and the Representation of the People Act, 1951, both stipulate that breaking this order shall result in penalties, Diwase has added.
