Election Observer Senthil Rajan on Thursday called for special public awareness campaigns on the importance of exercising franchise in the general elections.
Speaking to mediapersons here, Rajan said Election Commission of India has decided to distribute ‘Sanklap Patra’ to school students to convince their parents and family voters to cast their votes in the election. Hoardings will be put up in public places and Government offices to promote awareness among the voters.
He said concerted efforts should be made to ensure maximum voter participation and raise the polling percentage in those polling stations which recorded low turn-out in previous elections.
Rajan said the authorities should ensure provision of toilets, drinking water, ramp and power supply at polling booths. Select booths should be converted into model polling booths and adequate training imparted to booth-level officers, he added.
As many as 8,28,406 voters are scheduled to exercise their franchise in the forthcoming general elections to be held on April 17 in Jagatsinghpur district. The election expenditure of all the candidates would be strictly restricted during election, Rajan said.
Poll notification would be issued on March 19. The filing of nominations would continue till March 26 and scrutiny would be held next day.
The last date for withdrawal of nominations has been fixed for March 29. About 1,025 booths would be opened in the district. While the maximum number of 302 booths would come up in Balikuda-Erasama Assembly constituency, Jagatsinghpur Assembly seat would have 235, Paradip 231 and Tirtol reserved seat 258 booths.
Collector Satya Kumar Mallick said initiatives have been taken under the Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation scheme for promoting voter awareness. The administration has directed all BDOs to make awareness programme successful.
“We have decided to form village awareness committees to control the bribe given by the candidates to the voters and keep a check on supply of liquor during the elections,” Mallick said.
He further said poll awareness is spread in rural areas through cultural programmes like ‘Ghoda Nacha’, ‘Pala’ and street play. An awareness programme on use of EVM is going on in weekly haats and street corners.
Similarly, Voter Sahayak Kendra has been opened and toll-free number 1950 has become operational at district control room.
