103-year-old granny, Zaitona Bibi, claims she hasn’t missed a single occasion to vote in all the elections since 1957, when the process began in Jammu and Kashmir.
On Saturday morning, the grandmother of 14 and great-grandmother of 56 children, who hails from remote Kota-Top village of Kharangal Panchayat in Gandoh tehsil of Doda district, walked a treacherous mountain terrain to make sure that she votes in the DDC polls, being held for the first time in J&K.
“For the past 63 years, I have never missed a single occasion to vote. Since my first time, I make sure that I don’t miss a single chance to vote,” said Bibi, who was accompanied by her son’s grand daughter Rabia Bano (24) to Gujjar Basti polling station, located one kilometre from her house.
“She is an inspiration to all of us, as she always motivates us to be part of the democratic process. This motivates poor tribal population to fight for their rights,” said Miskeen Ali Khatana of Kota Top hamlet.
From her tribal representative, the centenarian expects that it would finally open avenues of development in the tribal areas and unemployed youth in the area including her grandchildren get jobs. “I want employment for my grandchildren as they remain unemployed,” said Bibi, who is mother to 56 great-grandchildren.
For her family which comprises more than 110 registered voters, the elderly woman has been an inspiration.
A good voter turnout was witnessed in the area with people queuing up outside polling booths to cast their votes despite the winter chill.