Election officials in Srirangam and elsewhere in Tiruchi are quietly but effectively resorting to novel measures to sensitise voters on the need to exercise their franchise without fail.
Besides holding street plays and other awareness programmes, they now seek to spread the message under Systematic Voter Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) through consumables and essential commodities.
With the onset of summer, they zeroed in on the tender coconut first. They visited tender coconut sellers in Srirangam and Manapparai and requested them to paste stickers with voter awareness messages on their produce.
They also turned their attention to the famous Manapparai Murukku. Upon their instructions, traders of the popular savoury now sell their packets with the stickers.
As in the previous election, the stickers have also made their way to the most ubiquitous commodity: LPG cylinders.
Gas cylinders distributed in Srirangam to residents can be seen bearing the stickers pasted by election authorities.
“Novel ideas always work. The initiatives have gone down well with voters. Besides creating awareness of the need to bring more voters to the booths, we provide equal importance to ethical voting,” said Sibi Aditya Senthilkumar, Sub-Collector, Srirangam.
Add to them eco-friendly cloth bags supplied to customers at Pettavaithalai weekly market.
By roping in students of Srimad Andavan College, Srirangam, signature boards have been put up for voters to affix their signatures or hand impressions indicating their commitment to vote.
Young voters are also being administered pledges to cast their votes without fail and not to take cash or gifts in return.
“We are trying to reach out to voters in all possible ways. Memes from popular movies have been created to spread the message among young voters through social media,” the sub-collector added.
