In democracy by donkey, everybody wins

Senthil Kumaran / TNN / May 16, 2016, 23:03 IST

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Election officials on Sunday dispatched electronic voting machines (EVMs) to different polling booths across Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts - in six remote booths, by porters who lugged them on their heads and, in other, hilly areas, by donkey.

Officials used donkeys to ferry EVMs and polling materials to Kottur and Yeri hills in Pennagaram seat of Dharmapuri district on Sunday to ensure that the 670 voters in these areas too got their chance to vote. (TOI photo)

SALEM: Democracy by donkey. Management by mule. Whatever it takes to keep this the largest free nation in the world.
Election officials on Sunday dispatched electronic voting machines (EVMs) to different polling booths across Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts - in six remote booths, by porters who lugged them on their heads and, in other, hilly areas, by donkey.

Five donkeys carried EVMs and polling material to Kottur and Yeri hills in Pennagaram Assembly segment of Dharmapuri district on Sunday afternoon.
According to election officials, the donkeys ensured that a total of no less than 670 voters in these areas could vote when the state goes to the hustings on Monday.

C Chinnraj, a voter in Kottur hills, told TOI that he has voted in every single election since 1970 and that every time it was possible only because donkeys carried election material to the boondocks where, it occurred to him, people voting has made little difference to their lives in terms of development or just about anything else.
"We lack basic amenities," he said. "We urge candidates of all parties one thing: If you win, give us the basics -roads, water. It is not asking for too much." Booth-level officer K Murugan said, "The Kottur hills area has 345 votes and Yeri hills region has 325." He added that the donkeys would carry back the EVMs and other poll paraphernalia back to counting centres after the election wraps up on Monday evening. Election officials used donkeys to carry EVMs and polling material to remote Ekkalnatham village, in Veppahanalli constituency in Krishnagiri district, which has more than 270 voters.
They used three donkeys to ferry the stuff to Kottur hills and two to Yeri hills. Poll officials pressed the donkeys into service around 1pm as the Kottur hills area does not have approach roads.
The donkeys each earned their masters Rs 2,000 for the sterling job they did. In view of the mission these beasts performed, it's a good thing to remember that every donkey bears a cross.

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