As many as 3,050 students have been included in the electoral roll as first time voters. After conducting special awareness programmes in 43 colleges across the district, these first time voters had been identified, Collector and District Election Officer, M. Ravikumar said in a statement here on Thursday.
Besides, around 500 pregnant women, who had come to their parents’ houses in various parts of the district and 244 elderly persons were also included in the electoral roll. To help the differently abled persons on the polling day, a total of 300 wheel chairs were brought. To operate such wheelchairs in polling booths, 300 persons would be deputed, he said.
Earlier, a meeting was convened involving officials from various departments. During the schedule, the District Election Officer sought the progress of systematic voters’ education and electoral participation programme to achieve hundred percent polling. After organising several awareness programmes on the importance of polling ahead of the previous parliamentary elections in 2014, 69. 9 percent polling was recorded. To raise awareness about voting as one of the democratic rights of people, pay bills at farm fresh vegetable outlet in Thoothukudi were sealed appealing to the consumers to ensure hundred percent polling. Assistant Collector (Training) M. Pradeep Kumar, Project Director of District Rural Development Agency, Kovilpatti Revenue Divisional Officer S. Kannabiran, Tiruchendur RDO Thyagarajan and others attended.