Bogus ration cards a major concern: activists

However,in both Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad,returning officers and election officials do not seem to be not fully aware about the exact process of allowing the ration cards. PCMC election officer Dr Uday Tekale said,”I will have to verify about the use of ration cards as voter ID proof.” When told that the SEC has allowed the use of ration cards as identity proof,he said,“We are yet to get such an order.” When Satyanarayan was contacted again,she emphasised that orders in this regard are already in place and the election officials should read them properly so that the voters also become aware of this. PMC election officer Pravin Ashtikar said,“Ration cards are allowed as proof,but if election officials object to it,the voter will have to show one of the 17 identity proofs listed by the EC.”

The returning officers are also not confident about the use of ration cards. Jayshree Katare,the returning officer who will in charge of Chikhli Talawade area with 10 wards and over 1.5 lakh voter population,said,“Give me time till Tuesday morning,I will let you know the exact information about the use of ration cards. I have read about ration cards being allowed during ZP elections,but I’m not sure about civic polls.” Sudhakar Deshmukh,who will handle Rahani area with 1.5 lakh voter count,said he too was yet to find out about the provision regarding the usage of ration cards. Dnyaneshwar Mulak who will be in charge of Thergaon area that has a voter count of nearly two lakh,said he would confirm with the PCMC election officials about the usage.

The voters are equally confused. S Chandekar,a housewife who resides in Chinchwad,said,“I want to vote but I have lost my voter ID card. But when I enquired with political leaders,they could not give me a proper answer.” Congress candidate from Pimpri Amar Moolchandani said there was utter confusion among voters regarding what constitutes an identity proof. “Several voters do not have voter ID cards. For fear of being sent back,many do not venture into polling booths. Officials should clarify on the issue of identity proof,” he said. Activist Sachin Godambe said the election officials should allow people to vote even if he or she does not have proper identity card if polling agents do not object. “This is because the polling agents of different political parties know that the person stays in the area,” he said.

However,activists said only a fortnight back,a government resolution has disallowed the use of ration cards as ID proof during polling.

“That’s why this decision is surprising,” said activist Manav Kamble. Demanding that ration cards should not be allowed,Kamble said in Pimpri-Chinchwad,around 35,000 bogus ration cards exist.