Noida: People, some unable to walk and some hospitalised, cast their votes for the Lok Sabha elections in Noida on Friday despite hurdles.
Some of those who did so were suffering from fractures, slipped discs in arms and legs and some had recently undergone surgery.
These people received assistance with free ambulance service through the initiative of local NGO Yuva Kranti Sena and industry body Noida Apparel Export Cluster (NAEC).
76-year-old Saroj Mittal, resident of Sector 19, has been undergoing knee treatment for the last five years after a slip disc injury.
Mittal and her family were worried about how she would cast her vote.The woman lying on the bed said, "I don't remember when I did not go to vote." Voting is very important for every citizen. Everyone should exercise their franchise."
His daughter-in-law Meenakshi said the free ambulance service initiative has helped him.
Mittal, who retired from the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Department in 2005, said she was also very happy with the arrangements at the polling booth at Marigol School.
“The process has become much better now,” he said. “I was worried that I might miss my chance to vote.”He recalled that he never missed voting in any election.
72-year-old Nirmala Yadav is bedridden since open heart surgery on March 26, yet she came to vote.
“I wanted to vote. I never forget it,” Yadav said at her home in Sector 19. “I voted for my country.”
Her husband Jagjivan Prasad Yadav, 75, said he had gone to cast his vote and knew his wife was sad about not being able to vote."While returning from the polling booth, I saw the free ambulance service and it came in handy. Soon I took my wife and she also voted in the elections," he said.
“It is your choice to vote for whoever you want, but you must cast your vote,” he said.
Maniram, 65, a resident of Sadarpur village, took leave to cast his vote from Prakash Hospital, where he was admitted for nose surgery.
He was among the patients who availed the free ambulance service.He said, "Whether it is Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections, I have never missed voting. I will go to vote and return to the hospital, I have taken permission from the doctors."
Another patient at the hospital, 58-year-old Kamaraj, said he was going to vote with a broken arm due to which he was admitted to the hospital. Kamaraj was also helped by his wife Selva, 55, as both boarded the ambulance and drove away. A polling booth in Sector 34, where he had shifted from Delhi five years ago.Lalit Thukral, president of Noida Apparel Export Cluster, said the idea behind the free ambulance initiative was to encourage citizens to vote in large numbers.
Yuva Kranti Sena president Avinash Singh said, “We helped around 60 patients from various hospitals, including the district hospital, and others bedridden at home to reach polling stations to vote. We received many calls on our helpline numbers.”
Some of those who did so were suffering from fractures, slipped discs in arms and legs and some had recently undergone surgery.
These people received assistance with free ambulance service through the initiative of local NGO Yuva Kranti Sena and industry body Noida Apparel Export Cluster (NAEC).
76-year-old Saroj Mittal, resident of Sector 19, has been undergoing knee treatment for the last five years after a slip disc injury.
Mittal and her family were worried about how she would cast her vote.The woman lying on the bed said, "I don't remember when I did not go to vote." Voting is very important for every citizen. Everyone should exercise their franchise."
His daughter-in-law Meenakshi said the free ambulance service initiative has helped him.
Mittal, who retired from the Uttar Pradesh Electricity Department in 2005, said she was also very happy with the arrangements at the polling booth at Marigol School.
“The process has become much better now,” he said. “I was worried that I might miss my chance to vote.”He recalled that he never missed voting in any election.
72-year-old Nirmala Yadav is bedridden since open heart surgery on March 26, yet she came to vote.
“I wanted to vote. I never forget it,” Yadav said at her home in Sector 19. “I voted for my country.”
Her husband Jagjivan Prasad Yadav, 75, said he had gone to cast his vote and knew his wife was sad about not being able to vote."While returning from the polling booth, I saw the free ambulance service and it came in handy. Soon I took my wife and she also voted in the elections," he said.
“It is your choice to vote for whoever you want, but you must cast your vote,” he said.
Maniram, 65, a resident of Sadarpur village, took leave to cast his vote from Prakash Hospital, where he was admitted for nose surgery.
He was among the patients who availed the free ambulance service.He said, "Whether it is Lok Sabha elections or Assembly elections, I have never missed voting. I will go to vote and return to the hospital, I have taken permission from the doctors."
Another patient at the hospital, 58-year-old Kamaraj, said he was going to vote with a broken arm due to which he was admitted to the hospital. Kamaraj was also helped by his wife Selva, 55, as both boarded the ambulance and drove away. A polling booth in Sector 34, where he had shifted from Delhi five years ago.Lalit Thukral, president of Noida Apparel Export Cluster, said the idea behind the free ambulance initiative was to encourage citizens to vote in large numbers.
Yuva Kranti Sena president Avinash Singh said, “We helped around 60 patients from various hospitals, including the district hospital, and others bedridden at home to reach polling stations to vote. We received many calls on our helpline numbers.”
