Doing their bit — NSS volunteers help elderly

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 19

They may be too young to vote, but responsible enough to help the elderly and disabled voters. The NSS volunteers across the city contributed to the day by escorting the elderly and handicapped to polling booths.

Every polling booth had four to six students dragging wheelchairs to the gate to and from the gate.

Gurdit Singh (17) of Guru Nanak Khalsa Senior Secondary School, Sector 30-B, said he reached the polling booth at 7:30 am. He said: “Though I cannot vote this year, the feeling to help people is exquisite. If people don’t hesitate to vote despite all odds, can’t we do our bit in assisting them?”

“We were told to be polite with the elderly and taught how to communicate with the visually impaired and physically challenged,” added Mandeep at the Sector 30 school.

By afternoon, students at Government Senior Secondary School, Sector 27-C, did not eat anything as they were busy doing the service relentlessly. Rahul Verma (16) said: “We are surprised at the number of physically challenged people dropping in to cast their vote. We are proving them with wheelchair and water. Our duty will end after the elections.”

Another student, Rohit, said: “We are going turn-wise. There is no break for us and it is a long day. Some senior citizens are really appreciating the gesture and showering their blessings on us.”

This was for the first time that the Election Commission enlisted schoolchildren as volunteers at polling stations.