3 Things I learnt from the "Vote from Home"

Quiz: Question. Do you know the% of people who vote?

Ans: Only 67% of the eligible votes do vote.

The first phase of the LokSabha elections is starting from April 19th and this photo is of my 85+ years aged parents who voted from home in Bangalore today. And my Father has voted since the 1951 and this was his 17th Lok Sabha Voting.

For those of us who have organised any “event” at home or at work, you can very well imagine the chaos that often precedes such an event, and even while such an event is “live”.?General Elections is not just another family event, but an All India Event. Imagine doing this for the 545 constituencies in some 40 days. Just for scale, can you launch a physical product all over India in 45 days? or?Imagine you are the unmarried brother or the parent of the girl tasked with the marriage preparations. You know the unending number of things to do, the missed or forgotten things, etc .

1.Planning. The local BBMP - Bangalore Municipal employee had visited each of the houses to update the voters list and also check if there are any voters above 85+years of age.

Learning: Understand the customer and their and your own organisational problems and opportunities?beforehand!

Benefit: Most older people are very conscientious of voting.?The challenge of taking?people to the election booth to vote is reduced. (Thought, the newspapers showing old people used to?make good optics).

2. Product: Everything that was needed was in place, from the ballot paper, the indelible ink, pen, the privacy cover, even the privacy cover required to keep the paper for voting, the multiple covers and even the adhesive to seal the votes cast. There were even 2 vehicles for the staff & the voting equipment.

Learning: The sight of everything that was needed being ready at hand is to be appreciated. Planning is one thing, execution - Full kit for those who know Theory of Constraints, is another.?

Benefit: Brings efficiency to the operation. The paper ballot, of course, meant that old people got a touch and feel of having voted. When an electronic voting machine is used, old people are not sure if they “actually” voted or not, as there is no “evidence” in their experience. Of course, the more efficient electronic machines are the right way for a size and complexity of the country.

3.People: There were actually 16 people who were part of the process. From a gazetted officer to the security police to the videographer and election officials, each had a job to do. Even the local political parties were observing the process !

Learning: It is a people?heavy process. It is also an Election Commission approved process. Do we really need so many people? 8 people were actually involved, in the entire voting process. Nine, if you add the policeman who was observing for any mischief.The rest of the 7/8? No wonder, the bureaucracy is heavily over-staffed.

My Ask of you! If 85+ year old people can vote, will you cast your vote ???

If you don’t?vote for any reason, you have no right to complain about bad roads, pollution, water scarcity, etc.

If you do vote, and the situation remains the same, then you have the write to crib and comment about the bad roads, the pollution, water scarcity, etc !?

Will you commit to vote and also get your family and friends to vote as well.?We can keep the social media active with our complaints to get this great country improving !

#IndianElections, #CastYourVote