The Election Commission of India (ECI) has given a special emphasis to ensure maximum participation of women voters in the Assembly elections-2019. The EC in this connection is organising number of programmes under the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) to make people aware of their voting rights. Initiatives are also being made to connect women with voter awareness campaigns.
The Office of Chief Electoral Officer in this connection organsied a workshop for JSLPS personnel, NRM and NRHM personnel associated with JSLPS where the participants were informed about the importance of voting among women voters, including facilities available at polling stations for voters along with to inform about the initiative taken by the Election Commission to conduct free, fair and transparent elections including the facilities available and the participation of Sakhi Mandal.
In the workshop, Sakhi Mandals were asked to conduct SVEEP campaign at every village and inform women voters what facilities provided by the Election Commission for their convenience.
The EC has decided to have separate queues for women at each polling station. One female voter for every two men to be polled and token system has been arranged. Along with this there will be special facilities at polling stations for elderly and disabled voters making them aware of various steps of EC motivating them for voting. The women folk have appreciated the EC to have separate queues for women. Nikita Poddar a resident of Upper Bazaar said, “The election commission decision to have separate queues for women is welcome step.
Earlier, we had to stand in common queues waiting for our chance to vote causing inconvenience as well as time consuming. But, with separate queues women will not have to face any trouble.” Echoing similar views, elderly woman Resham Devi Jain said, “Such steps will increase the voting percentage as those women who used to give a miss to voting will come out from their houses to exercise their franchise.”
The EC has assigned the task to members and personnel associated with Sakhi Mandals, NRMs and NRHMs to inform voters, especially women, about its use, so that if there is any problem with taking their personal information along with the election process then it can be resolved.
Along with this, the members of Sakhi mandals have been asked to make voters aware about the use of C-Vigil, so that they can complain about election-related disturbances through this app.
This is very important for fair elections.