Women have taken the lead in educating their fellow voters on exercising franchise in the coming elections in this handloom town, thanks to active participation of the Self Help Group members.
Aiming at brining awareness on the voting rights among the citizens, the SHG members formed themselves into groups. Braving the scorching heat, they undertook a campaign at the busy bus stand and railway station here on Thursday. They also formed a human chain at the busy Clock Centre, urging the fellow voters not to succumb to the freebies offered by political parties. The women, who have made a mark by running small enterprises, explained the importance of participation in elections and selection of the right candidate to the people. “The leaders whom we elect should put in their sincere efforts for the development of the constituency,” they said.
“Woman voters, who outnumber men by 4,500, are highly empowered in this segment and they know the importance of voting. The total electorate of the constituency is 1.78 lakh,” said District Rural Development Agency Project Director A. Padmaja.
Awareness campaignStudents in large numbers from the Chirala Engineering College and Sangamitra Group of Educational Institutions also took part in the campaign to educate the first time voters, Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) nodal officer B. Ravi said. “A special effort was made to explain to people on the importance of None of the Above (NOTA) option that has been introduced in the coming polls. Revenue and other government employees also took a pledge to exercise their franchise without fear and educate their fellow voters on ethical voting,” Chirala Tehsildar K. Ravibabu said.
