The State literacy Mission of Uttarakhand has taken up the task of educating rural electorate about the benefits of casting their votes. The Sakshar Bharat programme of State literacy Mission which is operating in six districts of the State has taken up the task to increase the awareness for voting in these districts.
Uttarakhand is normally a low voter turnout state with voting percentage hovering around 50 per cent in the past general elections. State Project Manager of State literacy Mission, SB Joshi told The Pioneer that the Sakshar Bharat programme of National literacy Mission is operating in Bageshwar, Champawat, Udham Singh Nagar, Haridwar, Tehri and Uttarkashi districts of the state where the literacy levels are low. He said that a special awareness drive in these districts is being undertaken among the rural people.
The mission is supplying special posters, pamphlets, stickers and flash cards depicting the benefits of voting in 2731 villages of these districts. Joshi said that 5265 village coordinators and 19335 volunteers are being involved in the project to sensitize the masses about benefits of casting the franchise for a strong and vibrant democracy.
He said that these volunteers would distribute the posters and stickers and also sing poems and jingles in these villages. Joshi said that very simple but effective language is used in these tools to promote the concept of voting in villages. He hoped that the project would increase the voting percentage in these six districts.