Special attention will be paid to ensure fair elections and increase in polling percentage during Vidhan Sabha elections to be held in the end of this year in Madhya Pradesh. For this, various departments and institutions will actively work under systematic voter electoral education participation (SVEEP) plan. This was informed by Chief Electoral Officer Jaideep Govind at a State-level SVEEP meeting regarding voter awareness campaign here today. Commissioner Public Relations Rakesh Shrivastava, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Bl Kantarao etc. attended the meeting.
Jaideep Govind asked the SVEEP partners to work as per SVEEP policy. He informed that names of one crore voters have been included in electoral rolls in Madhya Pradesh during last 2 years. About 50 lakh youths will exercise their franchise for the first time. He asked SVEEP partners to suggest ways to increase polling percentage.
Polling percentage stood at 69.78 in last Vidhan Sabha elections (2008). It will have to be increased further. Govind also directed banks to paste posters, banners etc. at their ATMs and hold effective activities in remote areas of the state as well. He directed to inscribe election-related slogans in bills of BSNl and audio jingles in its caller tunes.
The Chief Electoral Officer directed officers of Higher Education Department to activate units of NSS and NCC. He directed to pay special attention to low-turnout polling booths in tribal areas. Minorities and Backward Classes Welfare Department was asked to chalk out its action plan for voter awareness.
Jaideep Govind asked Women and Child Development Department to increase its activities in districts where gender ratio is low. He directed Nehru Youth Centre, Doordarshan, All-India Radio, Public Relations Department, Radio Azad Hind, Scheduled Castes Welfare Department, post offices, Central School Organisation etc. to ensure their poll-related activities effectively.
Rakesh Shrivastava informed that Public Relations Department is holding activities through various mediums for creating voter awareness. He suggested that constant activities should be made to motivate voters to exercise their franchise. Shrivastava informed that Public Relations Department will chalk out media plan to ensure maximum participation of voters in electoral process and motivate them for this.
Better use of FM radio and other media will be ensured for maximum participation of voters in polling. He suggested using theatre and local cable network for increasing maximum poll percentage and ensuring fair elections. Kantarao also spoke on the occasion. Additional Director Public Relations lajpat Ahuja, Joint Chief Electoral Officer SS Bansal and officers of various departments were present on the occasion.