Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Director General Akshay Raut held district wise discussions through videoconferencing on increasing polling percentage during Vidhan Sabha elections on November 25 and SVEEP Plan chalked out to increase voters’ education and electoral participation.
Raut said that work has been done through SVEEP plan in Madhya Pradesh for the last 2 years. Now the need of the hour is to motivate maximum number of voters to cast their ballots during next six days before polling. Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Jaideep Govind and Additional Chief Electoral Officer (ACEO) Vl Kanta Rao were also present during the videoconferencing.
The Director General directed to identify polling booths in districts where polling percentage has been low during last elections. He also directed to analyse situation of polling booths by classifying them on the basis of polling percentage. The Director General said that special efforts also needed to ensure that maximum number of women participate in polling for Vidhan Sabha on November 25.
CEO Jaideep Govind informed that media, bankers and NGOs have been associated with SVEEP Plan. Special campaigns are being conducted to educate and enlighten school and college students. ACEO Vl Kanta Rao said that 17 voter awareness observers appointed by Election Commission of India visited remote areas in the districts under their charge, held discussions with voters and sought information regarding SVEEP Plan from them.
DEOs of 51 districts of Madhya Pradesh and commission’s awareness observers informed during video-conferencing that distribution of voters’ slips is being done at a rapid pace. BlOs, Asha and Anganwadi workers and Kisan Mitras are motivating voters to cast their ballots necessarily. Affidavits have been taken from voters. Banners have been installed on ration shops apart from public places. Human chains, cycle rallies, Rangoli and painting competitions and street plays are being held constantly in districts.
Watch over paid news
On behalf of the commission, information was also given regarding cases of paid news. District election officers were asked to hold meetings of MCMC regularly. The Director General directed for further intensifying 24X7 monitoring of electronic and social media.