Tripura voters' gender ratio exceeds national average

At 963 females to 1,000 males in the electoral rolls, Tripura's gender ratio is higher than the national average of 908 and of many other states, an official said here Monday.

The gender ratio among voters is narrowing in Tripura, where tribals constitute a third of the 3.7 million population.

"The gender ratio in Tripura was 933 females to 1,000 males during the 2004 Lok Sabha polls. It increased to 954 in 2009 and has gone up further to 963 this time (2014)," Tripura Chief Electoral Officer Ashutosh Jindal told IANS.

According to the final electoral rolls published in January this year, a total of 2,385,559 voters, including 1,170,360 females, have been enrolled.

In the last assembly election held Feb 14 last year, women cast more votes than the men.

"In the assembly poll, 90.89 percent of the total of 1,198,970 males cast their votes while 93.02 percent of the 1,156,476 female electorates exercised their franchise," Jindal added.

Tripura made electoral history during the 2013 assembly polls when a record 93.57 percent ballots were cast. The state recorded 92 percent polling in the 2008 state election.

Jindal said: "Since the first election in 1952, this was an all-time record in the electoral history of India."

The CEO said: "Of the 3,095 polling stations in the state, we are trying to set up at least 10 with only women polling personnel."

Renowned political analyst Tapas Dey said: "Political consciousness among both tribals and non-tribals in Tripura is very high. The men leaders in the state always try to empower women, both politically and economically."

According to the official, 57 percent of the total electorate (2,385,559) in Tripura is below 40 years of age.