Malda school wears festive look to cheer up voters

MALDA: Children offered balloons and ice creams under a shamiana as voters entered the booth. Cozy sofas under ceiling fans were arranged to ward off the heat. On a day when the election in Bengal was marred by allegations of violence and a death in poll-related clashes, Malda Girls’ School stood in contrast.
The polling station, managed entirely by women, was a welcome change for voters.Malda Girls’ School wore a festive look. This, organisers said, was all about making waiting in queues enjoyable.
In the booth, voters found women in charge. They micromanaged every bit, from explaining EVM functions to VVPAT machines. “I have never seen such a lovely polling station,” said Anima Burman, who teaches at a school in English Bazaar. “Despite getting training for poll duty, I was nervous till last night. But once it started, everything became easy.”
Malda this year got 50 women-controlled booths, where most polling officers are schoolteachers, ICDS worke-rs and block workers. Teacher Barnali Pande, a first-timer as presiding officer, said: “You hear stories about polling, many of them scary. I spent sleepless nights since I was given poll duty,” said Pande. As time passed without any untoward incident, polling officers at Malda DN School — where Pande was on duty — started to relax.
Polling agent Ranjan Mandal, too, was elated. “They are so well-behaved nobody will even think of disturbing the process here.”