Bangalore: This far in any election in India, urban voters have been the most reluctant to exercise their franchise, either due to apathy or genuine ignorance. Perhaps why the Election Commission in Karnataka is motivating the voter this time with information just a phone call away.
Eighteen-year-old Mala is yet to vote even once in any election, but since April 10, she has been helping at least 150 Bangaloreans everyday to find their names on the voters' rolls.
They are very eager to vote. Even when we are searching, they say 'tell me fast, tell me fast'...When it's not there they will be disappointed. They will shout at us, but we go softly and say "sorry sir, we will let you know," explains Mala, who is also a college student.
"Initially, we got about 5000 calls. Of late, we have been getting about 8,000 to 10,0000 calls per day," says Shihab, Manager, Trans-Act BPO.
Mala and many others have been hired by a Bangalore-based BPO to set up a 24-hour helpline for voters. With Thursday being D-day, this call centre is dealing with last-minute rush.
Over a hundred people are working across 3 shifts, 24x7, to help Bangalore go cast its vote. And one hopes that this initiative by the Election Commission and the enthusiasm of the people translates into a huge voter turnout on election day.