Tag: Voting Amid Covid-19

An Active Social and Political Activist

‘Life In Lockdown Weighs Heavy On Voters’ Mind’

By LokMarg

Brajesh Singh, 48, an advocate in Banka district of Bihar, cast his vote in the first phase of state elections. An active social and political activist, Singh says lockdown blues weigh heavy on the electorate’s mind

I take each and every election seriously, right from the Bar Association to the Lok Sabha. Anywhere that my voice counts, I ensure that my vote speaks as well. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say I have voted every time since I turned 18.

This is why voting in the first phase of Bihar Vidhan Sabha election was so important to me, especially in a year when the pandemic has brought unprecedented changes to our lives. Our voting booth was nearly 1 km from my house in Kumhratari village (a part of Katoria Community Development Block) in Banka district and catered to nearly 800 voters.

I went there early morning and was happy to see that strict rules for social distancing were in place. Circles had been drawn and people were expected to stand inside them while waiting. We were around 60 people at the booth and everyone had a mask on.

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There were separate lines (or circles) for women and senior citizens. Senior citizens were being aided properly by the election staff and there was a general atmosphere of kindness and understanding. This time many women and senior citizens turned out to vote because the pandemic has shown them how each vote counts and how important it is to choose a sensitive leader who is socially and emotionally aware of the electorate. The lockdown measures hit people hard in Bihar and I believe the voter have polled keeping in mind how they were treated by their leaders during these difficult times.

Since I actively worked with NGOs, local youth groups and other leaders at the beginning of the lockdown in providing dry rations and other essential items to the marginalised sections, I was aware of the prevalent mood of public. Katoria has a sizeable population that used to work outside in big cities and swathes of migrant labourers returned home between March and June this year. Many have voting rights but often missed exercising them as they were away from their native place. This time many of those people turned up to take part in voting.

Apart from being a voter in Katoria, I also actively campaigned for the BJP candidate for Jamui district (Shreyasi Singh). I basically acted as a communicator between Ms Singh and the local populace. Shreyasi is an Arjuna Award recipient in shooting (double trap) and this year was her first foray into active politics.

Brajesh is an active supporter of Arjuna award winner Shreyasi Singh

Both her parents Digvijay Singh and Putul Kumari were actively engaged in politics as well. I kept shuttling between Jamui and Katoria, all the while trying my best to ensure that social distancing was maintained at all events and programmes.

No doubt it has been tough but no voter wants a repeat of the lockdown (or the pandemic) and most listened to our pleas to practise social distancing and undertake hygiene measures during rallies etc. I have been on the road for the last month or so and I can say this is a historic election. People are voting for how they were treated in the past (lockdown), the present and the future (they want a proactive leader).

Ensure Social Distancing at Poll Booths

‘I Will Never Forget My Voting Amid Covid-19’

By LokMarg

Milee Banerjee recounts her voting experience in Munger, where the first phase of Bihar election took place on October 28 amid heavy security to ensure social distancing at poll booths

I will always remember this election. As an aware citizen, I always knew how important voting is, but the pandemic has taught us how important it is to choose our leaders wisely. So I went out and cast my precious vote today morning at my hometown in Munger. The situation has been a little tense here because of the police firing incident on the previous day which left one person dead and around 25 injured during Goddess Durga idol immersion.

My father and I went out early morning to vote. Heavy security had been deployed at the local school which was turned into a poll booth. I must admit I was mighty impressed with the arrangements there, especially in wake of coronavirus. Given the fact that I left my hometown a few years ago to work in Kolkata, it was but natural that my mind tried to compare Munger with the capital city.

About 70 people were in the booth at the same time and social distancing measures were followed to the tee. Temperature was checked right at the beginning, and hand sanitizers were provided to everyone. Strict checking was being done to ensure that people wore their masks and the premises had been kept very clean. There was also a lady who had been especially designated to answer people’s queries, if any. She was proactive and kept asking people if they had any confusion.

I had come from Kolkata to Munger at the beginning of the Covid-19 outbreak, and for the 8 months that I have spent here, I noticed the authorities were working relentlessly in managing the pandemic. Many migrant labourers came back from big cities to Munger during the lockdown and they have been very well taken care of.

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Choosing who to vote for, in my opinion, isn’t decided in one day or even one month. One must reflect before voting keeping in mind the local leaders, because in any moment of crisis they would be the first responders.

This particular Bihar Vidhan Sabha election has been special for me for I saw how people and authorities communicated freely and worked in tandem with each other during the raging Covid-19 pandemic. I found Munger people are a closely knit society. Whenever someone contracted the virus, people provided emotional and logistical support and no one felt stigmatized. That for me is the biggest plus of small towns. Such cooperation can help any society weather the worst of crises.

I understand that authorities in Kolkata will falter in many places because of the sheer size of its population when it comes to pandemic management, but the big city residents could learn from small towners as how to provide emotional support to each other. During the initial lockdown, my mom gave away many bottles of pickles so that the vulnerable may eat rotis with them, as vegetables or lentils were hard to come by.

I have so far been working from home and plan to go back to Kolkata after Diwali. But a valuable lesson I picked up from my stay in my small hometown during pandemic is that a voter one must choose the leaders who hold empathy and kindness for fellow human beings.