The Hindu : Front Page : It’s an EPIC struggle out there

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Wednesday, Apr 08, 2009
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Front Page

It’s an EPIC struggle out there

Staff Reporter

Today is the last day to get photo identity card

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

yes we can: Thousands throng facilitation centres in Bangalore braving the hot sun on Tuesday.

Bangalore: The plight of thousands of eligible voters, who are yet to receive their Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) appears to have gone unnoticed both by the Election Commission, which is busy with preparation for the conduct of elections, and the political parties which have shown little interest in the revision of voters’ lists.

Hundreds of people formed unending queues in the scorching sun in front of the various facilitation centres in Bangalore on Tuesday, as Wednesday is the last day to obtain EPIC. Armed with umbrellas, they had come prepared for the long wait.

The crowd outside one such centre at Madiwala seemed to increase as the day progressed. Young women with small children in their arms had no choice but to brave the summer heat.

Repeated visits

Residents of areas nearby, including Koramangala 8th Block and Chikkaudugodi, claimed that they had been visiting the centre for the past three days. A resident, on condition of anonymity, told The Hindu that he had been visiting the centre to get his EPIC for the past three days. “Every time, I am dissuaded after seeing the huge crowd outside the centre. I try to come in early in the day only to see people queuing up already,” he said.

Many people claimed no official was available to address their queries. Shiva Shankar N., who works in a private company, said that he came to the centre at 5 a.m. only to find some people already standing in a queue. “It took me an entire day just to submit documents and get my name added in the electoral list. There is no proper system in place at the centres. The process should be made people-friendly,” he said.

Srinivasan R., resident of Koramangala 8th Block, claimed that although he had submitted all documents, his application had been rejected. “The reason for the rejection of my application was not cited. The officials at the centre are unresponsive,” he said.

Rejected applications

Another resident said that applications of only two members of his six-member household had been accepted. “How is it possible? We all live together and had submitted the same documents. Why did the officials reject the applications?” he asked.

When contacted, M.N. Ajay Nagabhushan, Additional Commissioner (South), Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike, and Returning Officer for Bangalore South, said he would look into the issue. Meanwhile, M.N. Vidyashankar, Chief Electoral Officer, ruled out the possibility of extending the last date to issue EPIC.

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