One-size sari for staff doesn’t fit all

MANDYA: In a bid to draw women voters, the Election Commission has set up ‘sakhi’ or

pink polling booths

, managed entirely by women officials. Although the EC has not issued a direction for

women polling officers

to wear pink attire, taluk officers in Mandya have taken the move a step further, issuing pink saris to women officials. But women officials say the issue is of substandard quality.


The EC has set up 30 ‘sakhi’ booths in Mandya constituency of which 10 booths are in Mandya assembly constituency. Besides all-women staff, the booths will also be decorated pink. In keeping with the trend, officials in some taluks in Mandya district are distributing pink saris and blouses to women staff, directing them to wear them on polling day. But staff are less than enthused.

“The saris and blouse pieces are of inferior quality,” said one official. “Also, the saris are all the same size. Taller women cannot wear them since they are not long enough. Had we been told earlier, we could have purchased the saris ourselves.” The length of saris range from 5.5 metres to 8 metres.

Officials say they have also been directed to wear pink nail polish, bangles and earrings. However, Mandya zilla parishad CEO Avinash Menon Rajendran said: “Women polling staff are free to wear saris of any colour.”