Although Election Commission of India (ECI) is making all efforts to check money and liquor distribution in the lok Sabha polls, a group of women have taken up the cudgels against this prevalent practice to restrain the politicians from influencing the electors through illegal means.
The women under the aegis of Akhil Bharatiya Mahila Shakti Manch (ABMSM), a social outfit working for women empowerment in Haryana, has launched a special campaign wherein they are organising women’s meetings and taking out processions to motivate the women against this ‘illegal offerings’.
Santosh Dahiya, chief of the Manch, told The Pioneer that illegal practice like money and liquor distribution during the poll season could not be curbed entirely by just enacting laws and issuing the guidelines in this regard.
“The ECI is taking all essential steps to prevent the use of money and liquor in the polls but what more is required is to make the people aware against these evils as well to root them out completely. That’s why, we have launched this campaign to educate the people especially women against such illegal practice,” said Santosh.
She maintained the women activists would pay door-to-door visits to spread the message among the women besides holding meetings and taking out awareness procession in this regard. The drive had been launched in Kurukshetra but it would cover all parliamentary constituencies of the state in coming days, she added. On being asked why merely the women have been selected for the campaign, Santosh said “Since women usually stay in the houses and also know about tendency of their all family members hence they can turn out to be instrumental in stopping the corrupt practice to a large extent.”
She maintained, “We are asking the women to keep a tab on their husbands and other male members of their families during the elections. If their any kin found to be taking this illegal gratification from any candidate then try to educate him with regard on their own. They can also call us on finding it difficult to convince them.” Santosh informed the women activists would also go to the houses if any woman was not able to convince her family members against this illegal practice.