Election staff, foresters carry EVMs to remote booths

Coimbatore: Handed with the task of transporting the EVMs to remote polling booths, officials-in-charge not only travelled with extra protection but reached these booths before 4 pm. Since most of these booths were located in tribal hamlets, hilly regions and inside the forest area, officials sought help from the forest department and used their vehicles.
These officials and people in the area underwent a training a few weeks ago to handle conflict situations. Officials said there were 46 remote polling booths in four constituencies in Coimbatore - Mettupalayam, Kavundamapayalam, Valparai and Pollachi.
There are 5,100 EVMs in the district and five of these constituencies have two EVMs as the number of candidates in these constituencies is above 15. Two new polling stations have also been introduced in remote areas and these two will get to vote in their area for the first time since independence.
In Valparai, in 14 locations which are identified as shadow region with very no mobile network coverage, VHF (Very High Frequency) otherwise known as walkie talkies have also been arranged for. "In the past, we have even carried EVMs to several hilly regions on our own as vehicles would hardly ferry in these regions. But now, we ferry them in forest vehicles on non-motorable roads. It has become easier for us. But we have only one issue of animal attacks," said one of the returning officers.
In Valaparai constituency, 220 EVMs were transported and 33 were kept as reserve in the tahsildhar's office. "In areas such as Manampally estate in Valparai, it is very dangerous to travel in four wheelers as well. We have only used jeeps in such areas as the roads are not motorable,"said an official. He added that villagers in these hamlets would have to walk over 2 km to reach their polling stations.
Tribals of Kilpoonachi settlements near Top Slip and villages such as Erumaparai, Thunakadavu and Kolikamutty will also have to walk several kilometres to reach their polling stations. While most of the senior citizens would stay back at home, the others would walk in groups to cast their vote.
"We have arranged for forest jeeps to ferry people in many locations. Ten days ago, in a meeting, TNSTC buses were also asked to ferry in these regions as per their time schedule. They were requested to travel a few kilometres into the tribal hamlets," said a senior official form the district administration. Emergency execution plans in these locations have also been checked.