Dimapur, Jan. 25: Students of St Mary’s Montessori and Higher Secondary School, Dimapur on Wednesday staged a protest inside the school complex to register their objection to the state government’s decision to list the school as one of the polling stations for DMC elections.
This is the first time that the school has been chosen as one of the polling stations. Previously, the polling station for this particular location (ward 19) used to be at MC Complex, New Market. According to the school authorities, they received the requisition order on January 23 last.
On the same day, the school authorities wrote back to the deputy commissioner of Dimapur requesting him to ‘reconsider the venue’. They reasoned that it was a residential area (where 18 families are residing inside the complex), that the school was due an inspection from the CBSE on the same week, that the school was a centre for NBSE board exams for which students were already attending coaching classes, and that a model exam was underway. The council of ward 19 also wrote to the deputy commissioner requesting him to retain MC Complex as the polling station. The council informed the DC that the school authorities had informed the council of the problems faced by the school.
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Students of St Mary’s Montessori and Higher Secondary School, Dimapur protesting inside their school complex on Wednesday.[/caption]
However, till date the government has not responded – prompting the students to stage the protest. On Wednesday, the ward 19 council wrote a letter to the state election commissioner, requesting him to ‘revoke’ the listing of said school as a polling station.
“Moreover, it was also brought to the notice of the council that the government authorities did not obtain ‘No Objection Certificate’ from the school which is a private-run institution. The Ward 19 council’s opinion was also not sought on shifting of the polling station,” it stated in the letter.
It also pointed out that successive elections (polling) held at M.C. Complex for the last 30-40 years have been peaceful, secure and convenient since it is centrally located in the ward having easy and equitable access for the voters. “MC Complex is also convenient for crowd management for the officers on election duty, administration and the law enforcing agencies.
“In the light of the above stated facts and reasons, we urge your esteemed authority to kindly revoke the shifting order of polling station to St Mary’s Montessori and Higher Secondary School, Dimapur and retain at its original location i.e, MC Complex for a good voter turn-out and fair polling,” the letter read.
