93.5 Red FM asks listeners to turn on, tune in and hit that vote button
As the crucial phase for lS polls 2014 starts, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has started collaborating with Red FM radio station to create awareness among voters to turn up in large number and exercise their franchise. This aggressive nationwide campaign has been named Button Dabate Raho on 93.5 Red FM Bajaate Raho which will be supported by the ECI, but it will incur no cost for this programme.
Though the ECI campaign will favour the entire voting class of the country, youth will be the prime target of this campaign. As per available data, the majority of the population in India will reach the age of 29 years in the next seven years and thus, India will emerge as the youngest country in the world. Therefore, Red FM will mobilise youth across the country to come out in large numbers and vote. In order to motivate the youth, youth ambassadors are being appointed in around 30 odd cities. These youth ambassadors will have the responsibility to approach the youth and direct them towards polling booths. The ambassadors for 30 cities have already been finalised.
An elaborate theme for the entire awareness campaign has been prepared which states that the 16th lok Sabha polls have already become a hot-button issue and the urban youth demonstrates greater political participation. They yearn for engagement at policy level discussions. This indicates their concern towards improving the state of affairs in the country in general and quality of life of citizens in particular. They also understand their responsibility towards the nation.
Youth apart, even the middle class has emerged as a strong entity to decide the fate of candidates during the polls. They participate in programmes like Chai Pe Charcha and they deliberate seriously on all political issues. Keeping in mind the youth as well as the middle class, Red FM will run a countrywide campaign.
Under this collaboration, Red FM will put up voting awareness graffiti in several localities in various cities, including Delhi after securing permission from authorities. All the promos in the campaign shall be vetted by the ECI. The ECI has conveyed this message to start the awareness campaign in 17 States and the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) have been asked to make optimal use of this collaboration to disseminate important information to the people and to reach out to widest possible audience. They will change their tagline from 93.5 Red FM Bajaate Raho to Button Dabate Raho. Next four weeks, Red FM will also organise listener interaction, social media updates talking on Button Daba Ke Bajaa.
The EC will provide them support in securing interview and endorsement for youth ambassadors in each city from the Chief Electoral Officer. The Election Commission has already forwarded letters to the CEOs to provide audio and video bytes and provide permission for hoarding at prime location in each city exhorting people to vote. The Election Commission has already launched an aggressive campaign to create awareness among voters to ensure high voter turnout on polling day across the country.