Arrangements for the coming Lok Sabha elections are in full swing in the district. “There are 23,59,682 voters in the 13 Assembly constituencies in the district. We want to enrol maximum number of new voters on the list. We expect to enrol 45,000 new voters this time,” said District Collector T.V. Anupama here on Monday.
The district administration has initiated SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) programme in Thrissur, with cine actor Tovino Thomas as its ambassador. Awareness programmes have been done at colleges, Scheduled Class/Scheduled Tribe colonies, and among differently abled people.
Sign language training programmes, training for government workers, and competitions for students have also been conducted under SVEEP.
Awareness programmes on the use of VVPAT systems have been conducted in all Assembly constituencies with the help of 78 squads. A model polling unit is set up at Thrissur Collectorate for voters to practise the system, the Collector said.
Code violation
The C-VIGIL application is being used to detect violation of poll code of conduct. A team led by the assistant collector has been monitoring the functions. Three static surveillance teams, three flying squads, one anti-defacement squad, and a model code of conduct squad have been functioning in each constituency.
To ensure green protocol during the election, plastics, PVC, and disposable products will be avoided. “Boards and banners should be made with eco-friendly materials.
Political parties should be careful about waste generated during campaigns,” the Collector said. Women-friendly booths will be set up in polling stations. A media certification and monitoring committee has been formed in the district.
Anti-defacement drive
Posters and banners from public places have been removed as part of the anti-defacement drive. A survey of differently abled people will be taken in each booth and arrangements will be made for them to vote.
Government vehicles will be used to bring them to booths. Wheelchairs and drinking water facility will be arranged in booths. There are about 10,000 differently abled people in the district.
There are 2,283 polling stations in the 13 Assembly constituencies in the district.
Auxiliary polling stations will be set up if needed. There are 11,32,839 male voters and 12,26,822 female voters and 21 transgender voters in the district.
