The dangerous call of duty in Nandurbar
AKKALKUVA, NANDURBAR: For polling officers stationed at the seven polling stations in Akkalkuva tehsil in Nandurbar in the Satpura mountain range, October 15 will be a difficult day. It’s not the demographics or the effect of political equations, but the sheer travel — 80km by road in a hilly terrain, followed by a 5-hour path through dried up rivers to reach the bank of Narmada, which will then lead the 50 polling officers and 30 policemen to another bank to reach the polling stations in two barges — that is the real challenge here.
The seven stations include Manibelli, which is the first polling station in the country. “It is an exceptional example of the election machinery giving its fullest to fulfil their duty. The staff has to deal with a lot of physical pressure. We select people below 30 years, who can handle the exertion better. Some of the work is taken up a day in advance,” said Kailash Devare, tehsildar of Akkalkuva.
Till recently, the electoral staff used to take the 135-km Gujarat to reach the polling booths. “But the newly constructed road at Gaman has made a new route available. Although it has reduced the distance, it is equally challenging,” said Goraksha Palve, senior inspector, Molgi police station. deputed on the Manibelli polling station, said the experience was scary. “I was deputed here for the Lok Sabha elections too. The commute is dangerous and scary.”
In Akrani tehsil of the constituency, about five constituencies can 232km in Madhya Pradesh. The staff has to reach the foothills of the mountain in the Satpura range in Madhya Pradesh and cross the mountain for 2-8km to reach the stations. “Walking through jungles with EVMS and other machines
police protection and auxiliary mechanism. We also give them firelights to carry to keep wild animals away,” said Devare.
The poll percentage at these stations has always been the highest in the constituency. Some stations