An elderly woman, who is suffering from multiple ailments and could not even make it to washroom for the last 5 years, insisted to reach the polling station to cast her vote in the ongoing Panchayat elections at Gatha, some 3 kilometers downhill from her home in Bhadarwah, here on Saturday.
For 90-year-old Fatima Begum wife of late Qasim Din of village Lagsaroo in Gatha Panchayat, to vote for development has become a part of life, as she claims to have not missed even a single election since the first elections for the Legislative Assembly of the Jammu and Kashmir under its own Constitution were held in March–June 1957.
Physically dependent Fatima Begum, who belongs to a below poverty line (BPL) family and has no regular source of income, lives with her son Abdul Latief, who is a daily wage labourer.
“For the last 60 years, I have never missed a single occasion to vote. I am fortunate enough that my son happily agreed even this year to carry me to the polling station,” said Fatima, who was piggybacked by her son to the polling booth.
Not much has changed even after more than 70 years of independence in the Lagsaroo area, but the elderly woman said she still aspires to see her area developed.
A strong believer in democracy, Fatima said each time she goes to vote with a hope that the winning candidate would work for much-needed infrastructural development of the area.
“We need proper road connectivity, lanes and drains, good schools for our children. I hope my vote will change the developmental scenario of our area,”
The physically challenged, Fatima, has become an inspiration for everyone in the area to participate in the election process.
“Every time there are elections she gets excited. For the past ten days, she has been enquiring about the election date. Despite her disability and poor economic condition, she keeps on inspiring us to come out and vote,” Fatima’s son Abdul Latief said.