Emphasises enrolment of youth, women in voter list
Holds meeting of state-level core group
Emphasising on enrolment of youth and women in voter list, director general of Election Commission of India (ECI) Akshay Raut on Wednesday said efforts should be made to increase poll percentage in assembly and general elections. Raut expressed these words while addressing a meeting of state-level core group on Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation plan (SVEEP plan) at the office of state’s chief electoral officer on Wednesday.
He told that ECI had commenced SVEEP plan to increase participation of youth, women and weaker section of the society in elections as they usually refrain from enrolling themselves in voter list for unknown reasons.
“The objective of the SVEEP plan is to enrol all voters and encourage them to cast their vote during polls. The ECI commenced SVEEP plan in December 2009 in Jharkhand. This plan has been implemented in 18 states by far and helped increasing poll percentage,” he informed.
He instructed the state’s chief electoral officer Sunil Kujur to prepare an information kit comprising of audio and video materials pertaining to election procedures to educate voters. He said the kits should be distributed to field staff who in turn would inspire create awareness among voters about election process. He asked Kujur to ensure constant monitoring of SVEEP plan implementation in state.
He appealed all the departments to use their resources to encourage voters to cast their vote during elections.
He said state literacy mission could create awareness about election process in rural pockets by preparing literature in simple inspiring words, aanganbadi workers and assistants could inspire female voters, NCC and NSS could do the same job for local communities and social welfare department could prepare folk songs in local dialect and motivate voters.
He said the ECI observes January 25 as national voters’ day and distribute voter identity cards to the eligible ones on that day. He said voters could also be motivated through civil societies, non-governmental organisations, youth icons, print and electronic media, etc.
He further said the state election commission (SEC) should provide better facilities including drinking water, ramp, etc for voters in polling booths. He asked SEC to start awareness programme for electronic voting machine (EVM), voter helpline number and distribute voter slips.
The meeting was attended by directors of women and child development department, panchayat and social welfare department, state literacy mission and senior officials of SC and ST development department, higher education department, national cadet core (NCC), national service scheme (NSS), etc.
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