Rohtak admn in top gear to motivate voters

The Rohtak district administration-cum-electoral authorities are organising sporting activities and other events involving community to raise awareness about the significance of the right to franchise and ensuring enthusiastic participation of voters in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

Dr Yash Garg, Rohtak Deputy Commissioner, writes a slogan to encourage voters during a signature campaign in Rohtak. Tribune photo

Sunit Dhawan

The Rohtak district administration-cum-electoral authorities are organising sporting activities and other events involving community to raise awareness about the significance of the right to franchise and ensuring enthusiastic participation of voters in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

“We have launched a signature campaign and organised cricket matches in urban areas. We plan to organise kabaddi matches in rural areas, besides cycle rallies, a mini-marathon and other such participatory activities to motivate voters and achieve a high turnout in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections,” says Dr Yash Garg, Rohtak Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer.

The underlying idea of the exercise is to reach out to the maximum number of voters and ensure their participation in the polling process, as per the guidelines of the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP), a flagship programme of the Election Commission of India.

The authorities concerned say that self-help groups and voluntary social organisations have also been roped in to achieve good results.

The Rohtak ADC-cum-Nodal Officer (SVEEP) says that ‘Chunav pathshalas’ are being organised in villages to spread the message of ethical voting. Besides, awareness camps are being organised on college campuses to target first-time voters and other young electors.

“Grassroots-level government functionaries such as anganwadi workers, ASHA workers and auxiliary nurse midwives are also being involved in the process so that the message reaches the maximum number of voters,” he adds.

Assistant Commissioner (Under Training) Vishram Meena, who is a member of the team constituted for the effective implementation of the programme, says that the areas that recorded minimum voting in the last elections have been identified and an intensive drive is being launched to increase the participation of voters there in the next elections.

The officials concerned say that arrangements are being made to facilitate physically challenged persons in exercising their right to franchise.

Aim to achieve high turnout

We have launched a signature campaign and organised cricket matches in urban areas. We plan to organise kabaddi matches in rural areas, besides cycle rallies, a mini-marathon and other such participatory activities to motivate voters and achieve a high turnout in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. — Dr Yash Garg, Rohtak Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Electoral Officer