Pune: You can also go to the polls with young children. Because cradle arrangements will be made at the polling booths.

Anganwadi workers and helpers will be responsible for the cribs. The longer it takes to vote, the longer the children will be able to play with the toys provided by the anganwadi worker in the crib. Anganwadi workers, however, expressed their displeasure over having to work without pay.

In order to increase the percentage of women voters voting, the district administration planned to set up shelters at places with more than five polling stations.

There will be cribs in about 2,100 locations. In addition to drinking water and toys in the crib, the baby will also have access to nutritious food as needed. Therefore, women voters can definitely vote by handing over the baby to anganwadi workers after coming to vote with the baby," the administration said.

During the Lok Sabha elections, there were complaints that anganwadi workers in foster homes did not even get food at some polling booths in Pune city.

An anganwadi worker said, "We are happy that we get to work in this duty of voting. But will the administration only order us, on the day of polling for the Lok Sabha elections, food reached other staff at the polling booths, but we were not even asked for plain water. Far from compensation, at least we should ask our seniors how your work is going.

Total centers...
Polling stations : 8,462
Polling stations: 3,233
Polling stations with foster homes - 2,100

What's in the crib?
- Doll houses for children to sit in
- Toys
- Educational materials

Cradle numbers...
- 700 in the city
Rural - 1,300
- Municipalities - 100

Anganwadi workers have been given the job of foster homes on the polling day of the Assembly elections. Anganwadi workers should also be given additional election allowance in the same proportion as other government employees are given at polling booths.

Anganwadi workers worked during the Lok Sabha elections. But the election allowance has still not been paid. This has led to a lot of discontent among anganwadi workers, said Nilesh Datkhile, State Vice President, Maharashtra State Anganwadi Employees Association

Cribs at polling stations have been planned. Cribs will be set up in places with more than five polling stations. Instructions have also been given to anganwadi workers in this regard. The attendants will be available in the crib from the start of voting in the morning till the completion of the voting process.

Arrangements for their meals will be made by those election officials. There were no suggestions from the commission on compensation, said Monika Randhawa, Nodal Officer, Foster And Child Development Project Officer, Pune