On the first day of the elections for the first phase of Tanishka Women’s Dignity Forum, thousands of women cast their votes on Saturday. Being held for the first time on such a huge platform, Tanishka polls received an overwhelming response.
When the Tanishka Women’s Dignity Forum was initiated as a platform for women to address injustice and as a way towards progress and fight for rights, no one had ever thought of October 15, 2016, becoming a day when several women would witness their true ‘self’.
The election started with the traditional ‘Haldi-Kumkum’ ceremony and a puja of the ballot boxes. At many voting centres, Tanishka members had decorated the centres with rangoli to welcome the voters from far and near. In all, there were around 150 voting centres where the Tanishka women members cast their vote in a very disciplined manner.
Since 7 am on Saturday, Pune city beamed with enthusiasm as thousands of women turned up for Tanishka elections. Though, it was for the first time that the Tanishka is conducting elections on such a huge platform, the curiosity among the women was visible at every centre across the city.
It was worth appreciating that every woman present to cast vote had come for herself and for others like her. Women from all sectors – housewives, IT engineers, or in white collar jobs, labourers, elderly or retired, and even students – graced the Tanishka election.
The Tanishka women members expressed pride on casting a positive vote for a progressive future for women and their family.
ELECTIONS WITNESS MASSIVE TURNOUT
The elections for the first phase of Tanishka Women’s Dignity Forum was conducted statewide and thousands of women from different walks of life cast their precious votes. Lakhs of missed calls were also received from across the State as a method of voting for those women who could not come to the voting booths.
All candidates, from Hingna in Nagpur and Sillod in Aurangabad to Shirwal, Medha in Satara, received several votes on the first day of the poll.
The election process was absolutely transparent and dependent on technology. While half of the population in State is women, they expressed their deep trust in the Tanishka candidates.
Though the timing for the poll process was from 10 am to 2 pm, women kept coming for voting at some of the centres, and hence, the voting had to be extended by an hour.
All voters stood in a queue for their turn. Maharashtra Women’s Commission Chief Vijaya Rahatkar, MLA Medha Kulkarni, corporator Devyani Pharande, Seema Hire, along with Nashik Zilla Parishad Chief Vijayshree Chumble, popular dancer Sucheta Bhide Chaphekar, lavni artiste Maya Khutegavkar, poetess Sangita Barve, literary Madhvi Vaidya, actress Smita Shevale and many other prominent people voted for the Tanishka candidates.
Celebrated actors Bhau Kadam and Saurabh Gokhale also visited one of the voting centres to encourage the members.
The Tanishka Women’s Dignity Forum is a platform to bring about a change in the society under the leadership of women representatives. For the Tanishka elections, several women leaders have taken a lead to fight for their rights.
The huge turnover of women voters at polling booths and the number of missed calls showcase the impact of the work done by Tanishka Women’s Dignity Forum in last three and half years.
In the 10-day campaign, the Tanishka candidates visited many households to meet women and also opted to use the social media to increase their network. Without any supporters, banners or slogans, these candidates created history.
