Team Herald

PANJIM: In a move to make elections green, based on the direction of Election Commission, the Goa Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) brought an eco-friendly twist to the polling stations. 

The decoration of all 1652 polling stations was made keeping in mind the traditional Goan festivity under a concept ‘Sanostav’. The officials stationed at the booths were given special training to use baskets and trays made of bamboo sticks and of other eco-friendly items. 

CEO Goa tweeted that it is their effort to save the environment by “maximum use of eco-friendly materials in polling.” 

Soon after the elections were announced on March 10, the Election Commission of India had emphasized on having an eco-friendly elections. The candidates and political parties were also directed to make optimum use of eco-friendly items for their campaigns. 

“Decorations of the polling stations were done keeping in mind the concept of ‘Desh ka maha tyohar, deshacho mahan sanostav,” CEO office said. 

The interior ceilings were decorated with colourful paper ribbons and exterior entrances were with palm leaves, coconut leaves, etc. Toran made of flowers, betel nut, and traditionally woven style at entrance of pandal. Other eco-friendly decorative items, conventionally used in various Goan festivities, were used to decorate the booths. 

CEO had prohibited thermocol use. “We had taken help from the locals, to decorate some of our model polling booths in ethnic style of that particular village or area,” CEO said. 

The State election authorities have been adopting various new initiative every elections. In 2017 state assembly polls, pink polling booths manned by women staffers were introduced. 

Also, the first time voters were welcomed and thanked with teddy bear for exercising their franchise.