The Election Commission has sought the cooperation of voluntary and service organisations, consumer bodies, student community and other sections of society to play a key role in the poll process.
The efforts taken by the Election Commission under its Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme since the poll schedule was announced on March 4 have helped improve voters’ awareness.
The Commission has already displayed banners and flex boards in both urban and rural areas in all the 11 constituencies in Salem district and six constituencies in Namakkal district with catchy slogans pleading for greater participation for a stronger democracy.
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Notwithstanding, the Commission has roped in various organisations in its voter awareness campaigns.
Many organisations have already displayed banners, on the lines of the Election Commission, highlighting the need for cooperating with the Commission for the successful completion of the Assembly elections.
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The Indian Red Cross Society has displayed banners with slogans urging the voters to participate in the election process voluntarily help the Election to achieve cent per cent polling.
The display boards have also requested the people not to accept any monetary benefits for exercising their franchise.
According to H. Jakir Hussain, secretary of the Salem district branch of the Indian Red Cross Society, similar awareness boards have been displayed in rural towns such as Attur and Sankagiri, with the support of the local sponsors.
There has been overwhelming response for the initiative.
The promoters of Ideal Home exhibition too have displayed slogans reminding the voters of their duty towards the nation.
Some organisations even have given the details of the voters’ service centres functioning at the collectorate, corporation office, taluk offices and also the mobile voters’ facilitation centre for enrolling their names etc.
The student community has come out in big way in support of the Election Commission.
The NSS units of various colleges and schools have taken out voter awareness rallies in the nook and corner of the towns and villages.
Street plays
The district authorities have also roped in some drama troupes for organising street plays to motivate the voters.
“We conducted street plays underlining the importance of strengthening democracy New Bus Stand, Annathanapatti, Old Bus Stand and Hasthampatti for two days. The events attracted good gathering”, says C. S. Muthukrishnan of the Jai Sakthi Art Troupe.