Polling Officers Deserve Better: Bridging the Gap in Basic Facilities

So, picture this: election season is in full swing, with politicians crisscrossing the country, stirring up crowds at flashy rallies. It's all pomp and show, making you think our economy's booming like nobody's business, right? But hold on a second. Let's take a peek behind the scenes, where the folks on election duty are sweating it out in the trenches of rural India.

I'm talking about being sent off to some remote village in Kachchh district, smack dab in the middle of nowhere, for a three-day stint of election duty. Sounds adventurous, huh? Well, let me tell you, it's not all fun and games. We're talking about roughing it out without the comforts of home sweet home.

Now, let's talk about getting there. All the election officers are herded into these state government-run non-AC buses that are straight out of the Stone Age. I'm talking poor suspension, folks. And did I mention the scorching heat? In Kachchh, temperatures soar above 42 degrees, and there you are, packed like sardines in a tin can, with no relief in sight.

But here's the kicker: even if they provided us with fancy AC Volvo buses, it wouldn't make much of a difference. Why? Because the roads? Oh, they're a mess. Potholes galore, enough to make your teeth rattle. So, we're stuck with these rickety old buses, bouncing around like popcorn in a popper.

And get this: the state government tries to make the most out of every trip. So, they cram those buses full to the brim, leaving barely an inch of breathing space. Imagine being squished in with all your gear, including those bulky EVMs. And don't even get me started on the VVPATs—they're like square pegs in a round hole, nowhere to go but on your lap.

Now, let's talk toilets. You'd think in a place where they boast "You haven't seen anything if you haven't seen Kachchh," there'd be decent facilities, right? Wrong. The toilets in the polling stations are a disaster zone, especially for folks like me with creaky knees. It's like trying to navigate a maze of broken tiles and rusty pipes. Not exactly a walk in the park, if you catch my drift.

Here's another kicker: while our dear leaders are living it up with all the bells and whistles, we're left to fend for ourselves with the bare minimum. It's like, shouldn't we, the ones making sure democracy runs smoothly, get a little something-something too? I mean, if the Ministers are living the high life with facilities measured in inches, why are we stuck with crumbs measured in millimeters?

It's situations like these that make you feel like you're living in a poor economy, despite all the fancy speeches and promises. The state government may try to pinch every penny, but at what cost? The dignity and comfort of the people who keep the wheels of democracy turning.

The bottom line is this: there's a huge gap between the treatment our leaders get and what we, the unsung heroes of democracy, have to put up with. It's not just about toilets, buses or roads, folks. It's about respect, dignity, and fairness. So, let's bridge that gap and give not only polling officers but each and every citizen the basic facilities they deserve. After all, democracy works best when everyone's on a level playing field, don't you think?