Odisha Elections 2024: Waste To Wealth Polling Booth In Berhampur

Berhampur: The model polling booth set up at in Odisha’s Berhampur for the upcoming elections will present a pleasant surprise to the voters when they will see stools, table and other furniture in a different look on May 13.

The Berhampur Municipal Corporation (BeMC) has planned to open a ‘Waste to Wealth Model Polling Booth’ for the first time at Hillpatna in Berhampur.

The aim of this concept was to encourage the voters to take an interest in Olive Ridley turtles who travel thousands of miles in the ocean and arrive in millions for mass nesting along the Odisha coast, particularly at the Rushikulya river mouth, Gahirmatha marine sanctuary and Devi River mouth annually.

The state government has been making efforts for their conservation through a ban on fishing by trawlers and mechanised boat operators up to 20 km from the coast for almost six months and organising onshore and five offshore patrolling camps for keeping a close watch on the mass nesting of turtles.

Secondly, the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Berhampur, a pioneer institute of its kind in Odisha making large sculptures from waste materials and has made it to several world records.

A mascot of ‘Olly’ which has been a favourite name with the kids for the Olive Ridley turtles, would definitely catch the fancy and imagination of the voters, that would welcome the voters from outside. The 6-feet high Olly mascot made up with 7 thousand cold drink bottle caps would be fixed outside.

A movable and wheeled 3 feet diameter waste tyre would attract the voters with the letters ‘Waste to Wealth Polling Booth’

There would also be a selfie point India map outside the booth made up with waste materials. The voters can take selfies there to remember the great moment of their participation in the election process of the largest democracy of the world.

Five stools (each made up of three waste car tyres) are also being prepared to help four poll personnel including presiding officer, first and second polling officers and security personnel to sit on. Three car tyres are bolted from inside to have a fixed joint. Round shaped waste ply boards with a foam cover to be affixed on the top of the stool to give comforts.

Similarly, 3 tables with 3 feet height made up with wasted bike tyres would be used to keep the poll related documents and materials . This table is being framed with a wasted 6 mm iron rod and six bike tyres are needed to make one table which would be fixed atop with plywood.
A bonnet of a discarded jeep is also being prepared to make it as a table on which the voters can cast their votes on EVM machines (Thank God not wasted EVM machine).

More than 40 students of the ITI Berhampur from Fitter, Electrician, Instrument Mechanics, Painter and Industrial Painter are working on these 6 projects since May 3 after the BeMC requested the ITI to focus on the ‘Waste to Wealth Model Polling Booth’, said Dr Rajat Kumar Panigrahi Principal ITI Berhampur. All the project works would be completed by May 10, he said.

When thousands of people throw off their old, kaput vehicle parts and electronic goods every year in the trash can, our students have come up with some fascinating ideas with the waste materials and displayed it with brilliant zest. ITI Berhampur has made headlines in the national media several times, he said.