To encourage its students and people from the neighbouring slum pockets to cast their vote, the Guru Nanak College of Science, Commerce and Arts, GTB Nagar, on Thursday launched a voter awareness campaign.
Through the week-long campaign, the college will enroll students over 18 years of age in the voter’s list. Rallies and demonstrations have also been organised in slum pockets and railway stations near the college campus.
On Thursday, the campaign was launched with officials from the State Election Commission (SEC) demonstrating the working of Control Unit, Ballot Unit and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine to students to demonstrate its usage and educate the underprivileged on how votes are to be cast.
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While the rallies will take place at the GTB Nagar railway station and the Sion-Koliwada area in the vicinity, the college also intends to register eligible locals.
The SEC officials have said they will distribute the required forms to the college management that could then be submitted to them for processing.
“Most of our students are first-generation learners. Since they do not come from educated backgrounds, there is lesser awareness about voting and its importance. Many are over 18 years of age, but do not have a voter ID card. Throughout this week, we not only intend to register them as voters, but drive them to bring awareness about voting and its importance among others too,” Sumit Kharat, head of the political science department of the college, said.
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“Even if one student votes thoughtfully, it will satisfy us as their guides and mentors. In our experience of teaching, we have realised that a new India will not be built in the Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha, but in schools and colleges. We were not surprised when we found that none of our students who are 18 years and above have a voter ID card. To engage the youth in the political process is the responsibility of educational institutions,” Dr. Vijay Dabholkar, principal of the college said.
Final call with EC
Meanwhile, members from the SEC have said they will collect the forms from the students once they are filled, but the final call will be taken by the Election Commission (EC).
“Our voter list is made public in January, followed by supplementary lists. Those applying for the voter ID card need to have the required documents such as electricity bills, ration card, Aadhar card and Pan card. Once the students fill in their forms, they will be processed. With the voters list ready ahead of the polls, not every student will be able to vote, but this is a positive start. After submission of the forms, the final decision will be taken by the EC,” Sachin Patil, a member of SEC said.