Imphal: This could be a one-off experience and could help us to grow personally, says Thiyam Sangeeta, a lecturer in the Education Department, on her first-time assignment as Polling Officer-1.
Sangeeta, alongwith 115 other women officials will manage all the 29 Polling Stations in 13-Singjamei Assembly Constituency, on Monday’s poll day.
Polling personnel, who are on duty on Poll day in respect of the 13 Assembly Constituencies of Imphal West district, left for their respective polling stations today.
Sangeeta, who will be part of the team at 13/7-Chingamakha Leimayol Art Centre P/S, said since it is her first time being on poll duty, she faced a few challenges initially, however, at the moment she is fully settled and looking forward to carry out her duty.
Stating that her team is quite cooperative and that with proper coordination among themselves, they are fully prepared, Sangeeta asserted, such an experience is quite enriching and will boost her confidence. She said today she has gotten to meet different kinds of people and learn from them also. We coordinate, cooperate, focus on teamwork and share ideas so that we could smoothly complete our duty as polling personnel tomorrow, she said confidently.
Further showing satisfaction with the district administration’s provision for them, she said they did face a few hiccups early on, but feel quite stable at the moment.
“We feel safe and secure, have already had dinner provided by the administration; and now, we are sharing ideas on how to go about our duties tomorrow,” she said.
Sangeeta also said that her family is quite supportive. She said her parents have told her that opportunity never comes twice and that she should learn and find ways to grow from all of life’s challenges.
Another polling personnel, Mary , also said that she and her team have been provided all necessary support and assistance by the authorities and that they are quite satisfied. She further appealed to the voters to choose their representative in a democratic manner.
Dispersal of the polling personnel started this morning from the DC Office Complex, Imphal West. The whole exercise was conducted through the Silent Dispersal System with the use of specific colour-coded T-shirts and vehicles for each Assembly Constituency. 9-Thangmeiband AC and 11-Sagolband were given Red, Uripok was designated Purple, 12-Keishamthong and 13-Singjamei were given Pink. 16-Sekmai (SC) and 17-Lamsang were given Green, 18-Konthoujam and 19-Patsoi were given Blue, 20-Langthabal and 21-Naoriya Pakhanglakpa were given Brown, 22-Wangoi and 23-Mayang Imphal were designated Yellow.
The 13 Assembly Constituencies in Imphal West district will go to polls in the 1st phase on February 28. Altogether 3,80,480 electors will exercise their franchise to vote and elect the respective representatives of the 13 Assembly Constituencies for which 55 candidates from different political parties are in the fray. There are 530 polling stations in the district.
The 55 candidates in the district include 13 each from Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian National Congress, 11 from the National People’s Party, 9 from the Janata Dal United, two from the Nationalists Congress Party, one each from Republican Party of India (Athawale) and Shiv Sena and five independent candidates.
