Dhamtari district has been on the forefront in the whole State for using the right to vote rather efficiently and introducing awareness. The highest 84.30 voting per centage has been registered in Dhamtari, in comparison to other districts. If the postal votes were added, the voting percentage would have reached to 85.
According to the sources, generally, the election commission honours district electoral officers with Rs 1 lakh reward, for conducting a peaceful, fearless, impartial and over 85 per cent voting in the district concerned. As peaceful, fearless, impartial and about 85 per cent voting has been held in Dhamtari, the district electoral officer and collector
NS Mandavi is considered eligible for the reward. However, no such declaration has been made by the Election Commission yet. After the implementation of model code of conduct, the administration had made foolproof arrangements in the district, the effect of which could be seen in the election. The voters came out of their houses and even women voters have forward and participated in the polling.
Heavy security arrangement was one of the reasons that record-breaking polling was registered in Sihawa assembly constituency, a naxal infested area. Highest 88.31 per cent polling in the State has been registered in Kurud assembly constituency, in Dhamtari 83 per cent and in the naxal affected Sihawa constituency 81.61 per cent.
Even after the election, the administration did not make any let out in the security arrangement as such peace remained in the district. Since the implementation of the code of conduct, no untoward incident has been reported, As mention of record polling and proper arrangements have been made in the report of Dhamtari, there is probability that the district electoral officer and collector Mandavi could be rewarded.
Motivated for polling
Under the SVEEP plan, by launching ‘Cent per cent voting Dhamtari campaign’, the administration had motivated voters to use their right to voting, which could be seen as the main reason for increasing the voting percentage. Deputy district electoral officer Tulika Prajapati said that rally was taken out to tell people of the importance of their right to vote.
Students of schools and colleges and social organisations have also been motivated, through holding painting exhibition at Collectorate, people were made aware of voting. Resolution room has been established, where were pledged of voting. Pledge messengers repeatedly visited villages and appealed to people to exercise their franchise. BlOs distributed voting slips near polling booths and stressed on impartial voting.
Voters deserve to be praised: Collector
Collector NS Mandavi said that the voters of Dhamtari were eligible for congratulations for huge turnout. The administrative machinery has made total efforts and because of the good results, morale of the officers and employees has been increased. On the prize, he said that it was depend upon the election commission, “We have only discharged our responsibility.”