The Hindu : Front Page : 90-year-old denied vote

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Friday, May 30, 2008
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90-year-old denied vote

N. Rahul

Ilamma trudged a long distance to the booth, returns home disappointed

— Photo: Satish H.

LEFT HIGH AND DRY: Kamandla Ilamma who could not cast her vote because she did not bring her photo ID card..

STATION GHANPUR (WARANGAL Dt.): Her body bent almost 90 degrees, nonagenarian Kamandla Ilamma trekked a long distance for her age with the help of two sticks, braving the scorching sun, to exercise her franchise in a byelection in Andhra Pradesh.

As ill-luck would have it, she had to return home disappointed as she was turned away by polling officials for want of a photo identity card. The voter slip did not help her realise her wish to cast her vote, for she did not carry any of the ID proofs suggested by the Election Commission.

She has been voting in every election. This was the first time she returned without voting. She trudged at step-a-minute pace.

Voting would have enabled her register as a beneficiary of the government schemes. At 90, she neither received the much-hyped old age pension nor subsidised rice as her ration card was torn.

She turned an epitome of melancholy with even tears dried up from her eyes. Wrinkle-faced Ilamma sat forlorn on a platform outside the station when the authorities refused to allow her to vote a little past noon.

After coming to terms with the bitter truth, she managed to reach the shade of a tree and began looking for some transport to reach home.

She told The Hindu there that she forgot to bring the photo ID card which she indeed possessed, but couldn’t have it fetched as it was kept under lock and key.

A Telugu Desam functionary, Kongara Laxmi, provided the much-needed help by engaging an autorickshaw to drive her back home.

Several names missing

Several cases where voters couldn’t find their names in the lists or the designated polling stations were also reported from different constituencies.

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