The Chief Election Officer of Manipur , P.K Singh cited  that the idea of having all women polling station in one assembly segment was mooted by  Dr. Rangitabati Waikhom, the Deputy Commissioner of Imphal East district who happens to be a women officer, assisted by mostly women AROs. 

“Manipur is known for its women power. Most movements on social issues have been headed by the Manipuri women. We thought election is the right time to showcase this women power through this kind of an arrangement. Interestingly the DEO, district election officer and AROs were keen to set up all women polling stations as many as possible. The DEO came up with the idea of converting an entire assembly segment into all-women polling stations. We seized the opportunity as we though it is very do-able. Dr. Rangitabali identified Yaiskhul for this purpose.”

Speaking on how she came up with the idea of this historic exercise, DC Imphal East, Dr. Rangitabati Waikhom said she attended the International Women’s Day recently and was struck by the idea of gender balance and gender equality. However when she and her AROs started planning for the polling exercise, she was discouraged by the response of the women employees who tried to shy away from taking up election duty.  Convinced that women would be more efficient and the idea of all women polling stations has be a major statement for the women power of the state, she held two motivational sessions with over 280 identified women employees  which enticed the imagination of  the Manipuri women folks.

Significantly, out of the 1300 polling stations of the Inner Manipur Seat, 76 was entirely manned by women polling officers. Furthermore, the entire 38 polling stations of the Yaiskhul assembly constituency was officiated by all first-timers women polling officers.

All selected women were made to undergo a series of rigorous theoretical as well as practical / hands-on training. The trust and hope the DC bestowed on them and on their capabilities, gradually made them confident 

Linda Lalhuinem, a higher secondary teacher who will be officiating poll procedures for the first time said she is a little nervous but exhumed confident that she is ready for it. 

“It is a good platform for women empowerment because it shows that women can play equal role as men. It is a big step taken by Manipur government. I’m proud to be part of it.”

Another first timer on election duty who is assigned as presiding officer echoed the same confident. “It is the right time to show to men that women can to do anything what men can do. We will try our best to outdo them,” Summi said.

CEO Manipur also revealed that all-women polling stations were experimented during the first phase in the Outer Manipur Seat in Churachandpur and Senapati district and the exercised proved a huge success with not a single report of complain. “This is possibly women command a lot of respect in the society and their efficiency is well known.

For free and fair election, 90 companies of central armed police forces were deployed in the first phase on 11^th  April in the outer Manipur seat, while 44 companies of the central forces was deployed on duties for the Inner Manipur Seat in the second phase on 18^th April. 19 re-polls ordered for the Outer Manipur Seat was also conducted today.

Out of the 1300 polling stations for the Inner Manipur Seat, 56 have been identified as hypersensitive and 54 sensitive. A total of 11 candidates are in the fray for the Inner Manipur seat, which is pitched as a four-corner fight between the BJP, Congress, CPI and an Manipur film star, RK Somendro fighting on an independent ticket.

The Outer Manipur seat had 8 candidates fighting to represent the hills.

In Maharastra an all-women polling booth will be set up in every Lok Sabha constituency during the next month’s polls in a bid to encourage more female voters to exercise their franchise.

As per the Election Commission’s (EC) directions to set up polling stations entirely managed by women, such booths will be set up in all 40 Lok Sabha seats of the state. 

“All those deployed at such polling stations – police, election officers and other employees – will be women. These booths, an initiative towards gender equality and involving women’s participation in the electoral process, will be called as ‘Sakhi Matdan Kendras’.” 

As per the EC’s guidelines, there would be no specific colour code for such polling stations, the release said, adding that their security will be a top priority.

Sensitive polling stations will be kept out of this experiment while those near tehsil office or police stations will be considered to be managed by women, the election commission communique stated.