A CORRESPONDENT
BISWANATH CHARIALI: With the objective of attracting voters to come out and cast their votes, Biswanath district administration has set up five model polling stations, of which one was inaugurated by Deputy Commissioner Pranab Kumar Sarmah on Saturday morning at 7 AM, in the presence of Shamim Ahmed Khan, General Election Observer for Biswanath Election District.
The Model Polling Station inaugurated by the DC is located at Chariali Girls' Higher Secondary School and has been designed by 30 Bn of CRPF. Soon after inaugurating the polling station, Sarmah felicitated two voters, one senior citizen and the other a first time voter.
"Biswanath district administration has taken up several initiatives in this election with the sole objective of generating awareness among voters so that the polling percentage further increases this time. These Model Polling Stations will further help attract voters to come out and vote," said the DC while addressing media persons.
Adhering to COVID protocol, body temperature of voters is first checked at the 'Medical Help-Desk' before allowing them to enter the voting rooms. Further, in case any voter falls sick during voting, the 'Medical Help-Desk' has sufficient facilities, including beds, to treat them. So that social distancing is maintained in queues, places have been clearly earmarked for voters to line up.
The Model Polling Station has the facility of wheel chair for the convenience of differently-abled, senior citizens and needy people. They also have play rooms for children and recreation facilities for adults. To make people not wait too long in queues, it has waiting rooms where voters can watch television and wait for their turn to vote. For the new age voters, this Model Polling Station has an exclusive 'Selfie Zone' where interested voters can take their photos. Besides providing free drinking water facility, the polling station has a food corner where people can buy and have snacks. It also has lactation room for mothers to breastfeed babies, in addition to proper toilet facility.