From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Apr 4: The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) OP Rawat and Election Commissioners Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavasa have released publicity materials and video clips on various initiatives taken by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the Karnataka Assembly Elections slated for May 12, 2018.

The CEC and other members of the national poll panel released the publicity materials and video clips in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Pink (Sakhi) Booths for Women Voters

The first video clip was regarding Sakhi/Pink booths, featuring how for the first time in Karnataka Assembly Elections, the ECI will set up women-only polling booths.

These separate pink polling booths for women will have all female staff including presiding officers, polling officers, micro observers and security personnel.

The pink booths are aimed at empowering women and increasing their participation in the poll process.

Around 450 polling booths in Karnataka will have Sakhi polling stations.

Specially-abled to Get First Preference

The second video features on various facilities offered for the specially abled voters.

The video shows as to how the ECI has conducted door-to-door survey and has identified persons with disabilities (PWD).

Each of the polling booths will be equipped with wheel chair, magnifying glass among other progressive initiatives.

The personnel at the polling station will ensure that physically challenged electors are given priority for entering the polling station; without having to wait in the queue for other electors and all necessary assistance will be provided to them at the polling station.

The polling booths will have facilities where in the voters can take their wheel- chair inside the polling station. In the polling stations where permanent ramps have not been provided, temporary ramps have been created.

The personnel at the polling station have been instructed that physically challenged electors are given priority for entering the polling station without having to wait in the queue for other electors and all necessary assistance to be provided.

Focus on Voters of Primitive Tribes

The third video clip featured on sensitizing primitive tribes.

The video features some of the primitive tribes, who have settled in remote areas in some of the districts.

The districts are:

Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Mysuru, Udupi, Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada.

The video features the tribal people expressing their happiness at various initiatives taken up by EC to boost voting.
Tribal women are seen talking highly about VVPAT and EVMs and how these machines have brought in the transparency in voting.