Representational image (Source: The Hindu)
Bengaluru: Often, the inaccessible terrain, lack of transport and other infrastructure have prevented most of the tribal population from exercising their right to vote. Keeping this in mind, the Election Commission (EC) has taken a new step to attract tribal communities towards voting by establishing special ethnic polling booths in various districts of the state.
In the state, there are 53 tribal communities with a total population of 42.48 lakh. Most of them, including Koraga and Jenu Kuruba, have remained backward. Without transport and polling booth facilities, women and elders of these communities are missing their voting rights. So, 50 special polling booths will be established in 8 districts for the coming Assembly elections.
The ethnic polling booths will be opened in Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Mysuru, Chamarajanagar, Chikkamagalur, Shivamogga and Kodagu districts. A special campaign is being carried out to register everyone’s name who are eligible to vote. ID cards will be provided right at their doorsteps.
Usually, tribal voters had to travel around 5 to 10 kilometers for the vote. There were instances where political parties or candidates used to provide transport facility and demand the tribes to vote for them. To avoid these situations of coercion, the EC has provided more polling booths. The EC has also decided to invite the voters to appear for voting in their traditional attire in these ethnic polling booths. “Voting is power and also a festival. They should enjoy it,” said an officer.
