In a bid to ensure high turnout of voters in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, the Chhatarpur administration has come up with a unique way of campaigning through gas cylinders.
Sub divisional officer (SDO) of Chhatarpur in Palamu district, Narendra Gupta has roped in LPG dealers of the area to not just spread the message of voting but also provide subsidy in gas cylinders for those who vote.
“There are eight LPG dealers in my area who have all agreed to help us in spreading awareness. The election is scheduled to be held on April 29 here and those people who vote in the election and then buy cylinder up to May 5 will be given a cash subsidy of Rs. 10 on the spot by the dealers,” Gupta said.
The administration decided to use gas cylinder as a mode for spreading awareness as the gas connection has reached almost all houses in the area. There are 2.56 lakh voters in Chhatarpur area in which there of 75,000 households. Of these households, at least 65,000 purchase at least one cylinder every month.
The stickers of election commission requesting people to vote are being pasted on the cylinders and banners are being put up on the delivery vans, thus reaching every household in the area. Also, the delivery boys have been directed to request the consumers to vote when they deliver the cylinder and get a pledge signed.
“The election is scheduled on April 29 so we have 18 more days to use this mode of awareness. We are expecting to reach every household in the area during this time,” the SDO said.
Munna Jaiswal of HP Gas Agency in Chhatarpur said that the dealers have decided unanimously to support the administration in voters' awareness programme. “It is a great idea to reach the masses easily with the message. Also, we are hoping that the subsidy being offered will encourage people to vote,” he said.
Unfortunately, the highest percentage of voting in Palamu district has never exceeded 58 per cent which was observed in the previous parliamentary election in 2014. The percentage again dipped in assembly election to 56 per cent.
This year, to encourage people to vote, the administration has come up with the slogan, 'Ab ke baar, saath ke paar' (this time, cross 60) for the upcoming elections.
Apart from spreading awareness campaign through gas delivery, many other steps are being taken by the administration including organizing the Light of Democracy which was a candle rally and putting up the wall of democracy in the form of signature campaign where voters pledged to vote and signed up.
The various officers involved in the election have also been directed to adopt at least one booth and provide facilities to voters, apart from the usual facilities.
“In the booth I have adopted, I am putting up a welcome flex, providing seating arrangements for 40 voters, giving out of turn opportunity to cast votes for pregnant and old women along other facilities,” Gupta said.
