Director General of Election Commission of India Akshay Raut has ensured that no polling booth in the state will be left without proper communication network during the lok Sabha Elections. Raut, while holding a workshop for the media representatives on paid news, rejecting the idea of low voter percent due to Maoist threat, also cleared that the data available with the Commission suggests that maximum percentage of voting has been witnessed in the Maoist hit areas during recent Assembly elections in some of worst hit States.
“It will be ensured that each and every booth is well connected with the Elections Commission…… help of satellite phones will be taken where there is a problem of proper telephone connectivity,” said Raut. “We will even take the help of runners to the nearest place of mobile connectivity, where there is no mobile or telephone connectivity,” he added.
Rejecting the notion that less percentage of votes are recorded in the lWE affected areas, Raut said that maximum number of voter turnout have been recorded in the Naxal affected areas. “The larger chunk of the less voted areas falls in the urban areas due to various factors like – lack of motivation, apathy and lack of facilitation,” Raut said.
Urban apathy remains the prime factor for the low turnout of voters in the urban areas, he added. Raut seeking media cooperation for crating awareness among the voters appealed them to play a positive role during the elections so that voter’s turnout increases during these elections.
“The Elections commission will also be promoting voting through Children, who will be asked to carry a pledge letter and get it signed by their parents,” he said. Raut, during the workshop also explained the guidelines issued to the publishers and the media houses. He also told them about the do’s and don’ts during the elections and also asked them to refrain from paid news, which is a punishable offence.