Rangi, 65, and her husband M. Moongilkaran, 70, are among many others from the tribal hamlets of Sembukarai and Thoomanur who have never missed the opportunity to cast votes in an election — be it parliamentary, Assembly or local body polls.
Understandably, this is a source of pride for them as voting often turns out to be an uphill task for them; at times, quite literally.
Though candidates do not come here to campaign, and the parties do not put up banners exhorting people to vote, over the years these hamlets have recorded over 90 per cent polling.
Only the extremely aged, who cannot step out of their house, and the few who go out to keep an eye on the cattle as they graze fail to make it to the polling booth.
In fact, many have even gone as far as sacrificing a day’s wage in order to exercise their right to vote.
Bounden duty
These folks have long believed that it is their bounden duty to exercise their democratic right. “We used to walk 15 km to Anaikatti to cast our vote,” says Moongilkaran.
Later, when a tar road came up they had to trek only 6.2 km to board a bus to the polling booth. A few years ago, a private jeep service to Anaikatti began But it was a costly affair.
“We paid Rs. 60 per head for an up and down trip,” says 35-year-old M. Ramaraj.
At times, political parties arranged pickups, dropped them back and provided them with lunch. But, they did not influence us to vote for them, claims Ramaraj.
Things have changed in recent years, with youngsters buying bikes to help their parents reach the polling station. This year, things hopefully will be much easier for the villagers.
For the first time, the poll panel has designated as a booth the Panchayat Union Middle School at Thoomanur. “We are expecting 100 per cent polling this time,” says M. Rangasamy, a local councillor.
For the first time, poll panel has designated as a booth a school
that is closer home
