Patient of paralysis came to vote in stretcher at Silchar

April 19: When the Election Commission of India (ECI) took up the cause of ensuring maximum voting by the citizens, little did it know that there would be so many role models in the country who indeed deserves the right to become the brand ambassador of ECI. This year, a number of differently-able voters came in wheelchairs or along with companions to exercise their franchise, but what a middle-aged lady did at Silchar, is indeed an incident to reckon.

During the second phase of Lok Sabha Election on 18 April, Silchar too went for the polls along with the rest of the constituencies. At afternoon, in the Silchar Polytechnic polling centre, an ambulance came in. At that moment, there were very few voters in that centre. A Facebook user Saswati Bhattacharjee, who was an eye witness to this incident recounts:

          “An ambulance approaching towards the polling booth was an unusual sight for me. I waited with curiosity to watch the reason for which the ambulance approached the polling booth at Silchar Polytechnic. Suddenly, I was startled to see a middle-aged woman was brought out in a stretcher and they were approaching Room No.2 of the said polling booth. On enquiry, I came to learn that the lady, named, Shefali Kar, a patient of paralysis was a resident of Meherpur and had come to cast her vote.

        She was physically unable to move, but her sense of responsibility has dragged her there. Even the polling staff and security were all spell bound. The Presiding Officer approached her and after checking her credentials applied indelible ink on her finger. Her stretcher was taken inside the voting compartment. She voted with the help of a companion. I then sought permission from the security personnel and clicked her image as a worthwhile treasure to cherish.”

way2barak salutes the indomitable spirit of Shefali Kar. If such type of democratic responsibility is exhibited by the electorate, then indeed we can claim that Indian democracy is on its matured stage. The lens of Saswati Bhattacharjee too deserves credit for capturing such a heart-touching incident and sharing it on social media for others to get inspired. Salute Shefali Kar…..