The district administration organised a rally, as part of Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme, here on Sunday to raise awareness of the importance of voting in the May 16 Assembly election.
Election observer Ashish Goyal, along with Collector and District Election Officer M. Ravikumar, flagged off the rally, which started from SAV School Grounds.
The participants proceeded through Thoothukudi old bus stand, Gin Factory Road, Sivanthakulam Road, George Road and concluded the rally at the District Sports Stadium. They carried placards highlighting the importance of not taking money for voting and the punishment that the act would attract.
A music band played ‘chendai melam’, and skating and gymnastic feats were also organised as part of the programme.
Appreciating the district administration for having organised a series of voter awareness programmes, Mr. Goyal said that he had been deputed as election observer by the Election Commission on five earlier occasions.
Mr. Ravikumar said that people should perform their democratic duty of casting votes and insist that their sons and daughters, who attained 18 years of age, should cast their votes.
He appealed to the students, who participated in the rally, to spread the message ‘Our votes are not for sale’ among the public.
District Revenue Officer S. Murugaiah, Thoothukudi Sub-Collector and Returning Officer S. Gopala Sundara Raj, Assistant Collector (Training) Pradeep Kumar and other officials participated.
