Bengaluru: As directed by the Election Commission, the Scheduled Welfare Department has set up 40 traditional polling stations in 9 districts of the state to facilitate the voting of voters belonging to Scheduled Tribes such as Erava, Hakki Pikki, Gaudalu, Hasalaru, Kadukuruba, Jaenukuruba, Koraga, and Siddi, who belong to the forest and forest-dwelling Scheduled Tribes. K. Rajakumar, Deputy Director of Scheduled Castes Welfare Department, who is the state nodal officer of traditional polling booths, said that the votes have been set up.
According to the 2011 census, the population of Scheduled Tribes in the state is 42,48,987 and there are tribal tribes like Erava, Paniya, Hakki Pikki, Gaudalu, Hasalaru, Kadukuruba, Jaenukuruba, Koraga, Malekudiya, Siddi and others living in the forest and on the edge of the forest. The population of these ethnic groups is more than 2 lakh. These communities are dependent on the forest for their livelihood and live off the minor forest products available in the forest. Most of them live in these 9 districts mainly Mysuru, Chamarajanagara, Kodagu, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Shivamogga and Hassan.
A total of 40 polling booths are being constructed in Mysuru, Chamarajanagara, Kodagu, Udupi, Uttara Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Dakshina Kannada, Shivamogga and Hassan Districts in order to encourage the Scheduled Castes to vote, to facilitate their arrival at their places of residence and in traditional style as per their tradition. These polling booths not only attract these communities but also help them to come to the polling booths freely and fearlessly as in their environment. This will increase the voter turnout.
He said that 9 polling booths have been established in Chamarajanagara District, 1 in Udupi District, 5 in Kodagu District, 5 in Uttara Kannada District, 5 in Dakshina Kannada District, 9 in Mysuru District, 3 in Shivamogga District, 2 in Chikkamagaluru District, and 1 polling booth in Hassan District.
The department has given importance to the tribals to vote in the assembly elections to be held in 2023.
1442 youth from Chamarajanagara, Mysuru, Udupi, Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada Districts who belong to special vulnerable real tribal communities such as Jenukuruba and Koraga will be newly included in the voter list.
Students above 18 years of age studying in post-matric colleges of Scheduled Castes across the state have registered through Voter Helpline App and U Garuda App to get Voter ID Card and awareness has been created about voting.
“Nothing like Voting, I Vote for Sure” election slogan has been displayed on the department’s website, notice board and correspondence to create awareness and awareness among the public about the election.
Voters of tribes, nomads, semi-nomads and other Scheduled Tribes living in Hadi Podis will be organised to create awareness about voting by issuing banners, posters and leaflets.
An ideal environment for traditional and natural voting is created in the same environment.
Actions have been taken to educate the tribal people about voting through EVM and VV PAT machines, the officers and staff went to the Hadi Podis where the tribal people live and conduct nuclear voting and create awareness about voting.