THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, Nov 6: Voters across the state of Jharkhand have been advised to carry with them any of the dozen listed documents in respect of their proof of identity.
The easiest ones are either an Aadhar Card or a driving licence. A voter’s identity card is another easiest one.
Pan card is also very useful. There are people in the Hussainabad assembly constituency here in Palamu who present their passports. It is said this Hussainabad assembly constituency has its people more in Arab countries than America.
Voter Information Slip not a substitute for identity proof
The Jharkhand Story correspondent in his survey had found that quite a good number of voters reach their respective booths carrying just their voter’s information slip.
It’s good in its very limited sense. This voter’s information slip gives the serial number of the voter in the electoral roll besides the number of booths like east booth or west booth or north booth or south booth or bhaag 1 or bhaag 2.
A voter’s information slip is only meant for the comfort and convenience of the voter. It does not double up as any document of identity proof.
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The Jharkhand Story in its survey maintained that a voter’s information slip be mandated so that the booth-level officers do not dump it but must distribute it among the voters.
Voters were reminded by the Jharkhand Story that a voter’s information slip is no substitute for any proof of identity and hence every voter should go to the polling station with a minimum of one listed document to the proof of identity of the voter.
Women voters call for recognition of SHG membership slips
Many woman voters told this correspondent that “They believe their membership slip for the Sakhi Mandal or better say woman self-help group be also included in the list of document to proof of identity.”
These women like any veteran lawyer argued with this correspondent asking “Tell me MGNREGA job card is allowed for voting. Right. So in the same spirit our registration with the Sakhi Mandal be also counted for. We are called Didis. We should be given our recognition.”
The Jharkhand Story correspondent discovered that women of SHG whom they call ‘Samooh’ are better knowledgeable about their microfinancing than many educated urban women. They vote far in numbers than the fashionable women of the town.
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Mismatch and issues with outdated information
The survey showed a few more things to be set right. Here it is.
1. A mismatch of name in the voter’s I Card and Aadhar Card. It’s very common as common as three out of 10 have this issue. Examples xxccKumar is in the voter’s ICard while he is xxccPrasad in the Aadhar Card. And when this voter presents his Aadhar Card showing him Prasad, the presiding officer eyes the voter with a sense of distrust. It is to be seen to be believed.
2. There is a lot of misspelling in the names of the voters. The Jharkhand Story correspondent came across a voter at booth number 210 in the town Daltonganj near the once-upon-a-time famous cinema hall on the day of polling for this Lok Sabha election where the said voter said “When my voter ICard was readied I had my eyes. After some years I lost my one eye in a road accident. Now I am to convince the polling officials that this one-eyed man is the same with two eyes picturised in the voter’s ICard.
