Slew of initiatives by Hailakandi election authorities to ensure large turnout of women voters

A Correspondent

HAILAKANDI: To encourage more women to vote, the Hailakandi election authorities organised an awareness programme on March 8 — marked as International Women's Day — as a part of the drive to motivate the fair sex. District Election Officer, Megh Nidhi Dahal is spearheading a campaign among the women voters to come out in large numbers to vote in the forthcoming Assam Assembly elections.

Election to three Legislative Assembly Constituencies of 6 Hailakandi, 7 Katlicherra and 8 Algapur goes to polls in the second phase on April 1. Mock demonstration on EVMs and VVPATs to motivate the women voters of the district to come out in large numbers to exercise their franchise in the impending general elections to further strengthen the edifice of democracy will be taken up in a big way. "Every woman must pledge to vote for it is her democratic right," quipped Dahal.

Besides hands-on training on EVMs and VVPATs, Chunav Pathsala and mock polling among women voters of the district are also in the pipeline. The district election authorities have planned a series of programmes to spread awareness among women to ensure they register themselves as voters as well as actively participate during the election process. "We have found that those who register are mainly male voters and youngsters. Thus, the focus is on women voters and this awareness campaign will continue before the poll day. Various organisations have volunteered to join the effort," said an election official from the district administration.

To spearhead the voter awareness drive the election authorities are planning to rope in women from various walks of life, including anganwadi workers, helpers, ASHA workers, self-help groups and non-government groups to reach out to women voters and ensure more participation in the forthcoming elections. The officials added that they would also involve women leaders in the process. The respective electoral registration officers and block level officers have been instructed to step up voter awareness programme among women under SVEEP.

Of the 4,97,450 electorate, 2,37,898 consist of female voters in the district. Focus is also on enhancing the percentage of voting in areas that recorded low turnouts during the last Assembly and Parliamentary elections. Voter awareness meetings for persons with disabilities (PwDs) are also being lined up. Under SVEEP, the administration has put up hoardings on election education, interpersonal communication, conducting sensitisation programmes and staging street plays.

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