M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, May 24: First-time voters of Palamu in this Panchayat election comprise every section of the society. School pass-outs, school dropouts, cattle grazers, goat grazers, working in malls and big shops in the city are among them.
Tarun Kumar (19) cast his first vote under the Tarhassi block. Aman Kumar Tiwary was also a first-time voter under the Nilamber Pitamberpur block.
Tarhassi and Nilamber Pitamberpur blocks along with other blocks like Manatu, Panki, and Satbarwa are polling today for the third phase of Panchayat elections.
Palamu district election officer cum DC Shashi Ranjan said this is a very happy sight to find first-time voters casting their votes.
The DC said this exercise of the fundamental right will inculcate in the first timer voter a deep sense of attachment and affiliation to the democracy.
Sources said the first timer voters be they are girls or boys are smart enough not to give their piece of mind as to whom they have voted. They are behaving no less mature than the veteran voters.
R K Sharma, a social activist of Nilamber Pitamberpur block, said the first time voters have their own fancy about the election. He talked to a cross-section of first-time voters who said their mukhiyas should raise playgrounds for them in the panchayat.
“Some said the mukhiyas should spend money to raise orchestra band as it not only offers the chance to show talent but in a limited way offers an opportunity to earn money also,” quoted Sharma.
Sources said the first time voters are not conservative but progressive as they said our panchayat needs large scale use of solar energy system. They said we need cheap solar energy and mukhiyas can have it. About red-tapism and corruption, their stock in trade answer is ‘It is all around’.
