PUNE: Various citizens volunteer groups in the city helped voters at the polling booth by guiding them to ensure that the voter turnout was good and voters did not face any problems in finding their names and details.
A group of 20 volunteers from Wagholi Housing Societies Association (WHSA) helped the voters of the area and managed traffic during poll hours. Nitin Kumar Jain of WHSA said, “We had set up a helpdesk near Wageshwar Temple. A group of 12 volunteers were at this helpdesk and helping voters with slips and water. There was also a selfie point for voters and group of eight volunteers managed the traffic at Wageshwar Chowk and Kesnand Phata to prevent chaos.”
“We have taken up an initiative to increase the voters’ percentage. For past 21 days, we had started sending pamphlets to all societies appealing them to vote,” added Jain.
Around 15 residents- a group of volunteers from the societies of Kharadi had set up three helpline booths near EON IT park, Toy Mall, near Forest County Society and near Ganga Constella Society to help the voters. Vijay Hargude, one of the volunteers, said, “These helpline booths at three locations were able to help around 40 societies of Kharadi. We had also prepared a list of all polling booths in Kharadi and Chandan Nagar area and made geo maps links of all polling stations. At these helpline booths, we were not only guiding voters with their serial number and part number but also providing them with geo map links so that they can easily reach their polling booths. Our aim was to ensure that the voters’ turnout should increase.”
The volunteers of Aundh Baner Balewadi Pashan Vikas Manch also ensured to help voters at polling booths in Aundh, Baner and Pashan. The volunteers were also using social media platforms to appeal to voters to vote.
A group of 15 volunteers from Team Swach Kalyani Nagar also set up a helpdesk in front of Kalyani bungalow to help the voters to find out their booth, part and serial number. Rachana Agarwal, a representative of Team Swach Kalyani Nagar, said, “We were here since 7 am and helping voters to find out their booth, part and serial number with the help of application Voter Helpline and we also have the voters’ list of Vadgaonsheri so we were able to help the maximum number of voters who faced problems while casting their votes.”