Family will not get a single penny if one collapses and dies while standing to vote, what if this happens to a polling officer?

KOLLAM: If a polling officer collapses and dies on duty, his family will get a compensation of Rs 10 lakh. A voter who collapses and dies while standing in a queue is not eligible for a single penny.

Human rights activist R Shanmughadas of Mamoottil House in Neendakara has been climbing steps since 2016 after giving memorandums to the chief minister and state election commissioner seeking compensation to the families of voters.

In the last seven years, around 26 people have died after collapsing at polling stations in the state, according to an unofficial estimate. Senior citizens, pregnant women and differently-abled persons are given special treatment at the polling station, but it is not implemented.

Polling stations have only two queues for men and women. In the meantime, if elderly, pregnant or differently-abled persons arrive, the rule is that they should be given special treatment. There will be a welfare officer at every polling station to ensure these things, but in most of the booths, even the elderly do not get special treatment.

Many people collapse and die in the polling stations after standing in the long queues for a long time without taking medicines on time. In the last assembly elections, the reform of voting at the homes of senior citizens was introduced, but the people have not gained full confidence. Aren't voters worth it?

The state government had recently increased the compensation awarded to the families of government officials dying while on duty from one and a half lakh to Rs 10 lakh. However, the government is unwilling to provide assistance to the families of those who die while performing the most important duty of a democracy.

Parliamentary elections are round the corner. At least from this election onwards, the government should be ready to help the families of the voters in case of loss of life, said Shanmughadas.