Therefore, we need to give a standing ovation to the National Society for Clean Cities -- Pune (NSCC), for their thankless endeavour in making it convenient to the Pune public, to check out their names on the voter's list, in partnership with the collectorate, by a mere phone-call. In an unprecedented move, the collector's office in liaison with the NSCC organised a phone-in Helpline for citizens to find out if their names are on the electoral rolls and get specific details on their polling station and their location.

Thus, seven telephones were put up at the control room in the collector's office and 20 enthusiastic volunteers -- all college-going students, answered enquiries, practically every second, for a full four days between 9 a.m and 5 p.m. According to Qaneez Sukhrani, prominent member of the NSCC, these volunteers answered at least 9,000 phonecalls in all. ``And many others,'' she said, ``could not get through to us.'' In fact, innumerable citizens complained that they were perpetually getting an engaged tone. Many phone-calls became lengthier since Pune's electoral list had many hearts burning due to deleted names. So, naturally these over-stretched volunteers took some time to check and re-check the caller's name in the list, which was finally missing. But, of course, that is another issue.

What's important is that, here was a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) which took the trouble of serving the citizenry, at large, in a novel and quick way. For the citizens, checking up their names, was a mere phone-call away.

For the NSCC members, it was a healthy and pleasing interaction with Collector Vijaykumar Gautam, who was very open to ideas. States Sukhrani, ``When we approached Gautam, and assured him that we are here to ease his burden, he understood our intentions and willingly co-operated. He gave his fullest support by providing the required infrastructure. We involved various citizens such as a group of software engineers to develop the software as well as student volunteers.''

The NSCC has decided not to forget the issue, just because voting is over. They have kept in mind, the deletion of hundreds of names that has caused inconvenience and distress. They, in liaison with the collectorate will soon take up the issue in depth - right from making the citizens aware of filling up the electoral form and ensuring that each voter's name is not skipped from the list. That's a tough task indeed and here we have someone who is actually picked up the gauntlet for Puneites. Let's reciprocate by showing immediate concern and not waking up at the last moment - till the next elections arrive.