40K youth to be engaged to guide voters at polling booths

Sanjeev Singh Bariana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 13

The office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) is chalking out a detailed programme to engage the services of more than 40,000 youth for guiding and facilitating voters in casting their ballot during the Lok Sabha elections on May 19.

A special election programme for the wings of the Bharat Scouts and Guides, the National Cadet Corps (NCC), the National Service Scheme (NSS) and other volunteers is being finalised. Their services will be utilised especially for reaching out to first-time voters, NRIs, physically challenged and senior citizens.

Onkar Singh, the state organising commissioner (Scouts), said, “Participation in poll activities is part of the routine training of the scouts. We will have update sessions on new changes in the election process. Volunteers participating in the election activity are awarded special certificates.”

Assistant CEO Kavita Singh said, “We will have youngsters welcoming voters with a smile. The purpose is to make each voter feel special. At least two youths each will be assisting voters at the 23,213 polling booths in the state.”

Dr S Karuna Raju, the CEO, said, “We have finalised our election programme with the Bharat Scouts and Guides today. We will now discuss it with other units and roll out a unified programme in a couple of days. Youths taking part in the poll activity will be given special certificates by the Election Commission of India (ECI). We are engaging at least 600 volunteers each from the Scouts, the NSS and other ogranisations.”

The office of the CEO has also roped in at least 6,000 electoral literacy clubs to reach out to voters.