...
...
Next Story

Gurugram admin preps to create awareness for new voters ahead of LS polls

Gurugram deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav held a meeting with representatives from political parties and highlighted the EC’s introduction of the mobile app called c-Vigil

Updated on: Mar 20, 2024, 22:15:44 IST
Advertisement

The district administration is gearing up for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 by launching a special campaign aimed at increasing voter turnout. Officials, aware of the matter, said the campaign on social media platforms will have hashtags and selfie points at public places and polling stations will be set up to attract voters.

The Gurugram administration is gearing up for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 by launching a special campaign aimed at increasing voter turnout. (Representational Image)
The Gurugram administration is gearing up for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 by launching a special campaign aimed at increasing voter turnout. (Representational Image)

Gurugram deputy commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav, who is also the election commission officer for the district, said as part of this initiative, government and private universities, colleges, and other educational institutions across the district will collaborate. “Additionally, the Haryana State Transport Department and passengers will be roped in to actively participate in the campaign. We have also introduced a toll-free number, 1950, to address any complaints or provide information to voters,” he said.

Yadav said along with awareness activities in the educational institutions of the district, marathons will also be organized for voter awareness in coordination with the sports department. “We will also appoint ambassadors for voter awareness from different fields. The message of awareness will also be spread through print, electronic, social media, multiplex and community radio so that maximum people turn out for voting,” he said.

The district election office has set up a toll-free number, 1950, for the convenience of voters, allowing them to lodge complaints or provide information.

Hitesh Kumar Meena, the Nodal Officer and additional deputy commissioner of the SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation programme), announced that a comprehensive awareness campaign will be initiated to engage new voters.

Meena said the necessity of obtaining prior permission from the administration for election-related activities such as using vehicles, conducting rallies or processions, and employing loudspeakers. “To ensure smoother voting processes, booths with 1500 or more voters will be bifurcated into two booths, ensuring timely completion of the voting process. Across the district, a total of 62 auxiliary polling booths will be established, increasing the number of polling stations from 1270 to 1332,” he said.

The ADC said that in order to increase the voting percentage, stamps of election festival and pride of the country slogans will be put on civil hospital, CHC and PHC slips, gas agency slips and other bills so that the message of voting is conveyed to maximum number of voters.

Meanwhile, MCG Commissioner Dr. Narahari Singh Banger has initiated an anti-defacement campaign aimed at removing political posters. He has sternly cautioned candidates and their supporters against engaging in any form of defacement. “We will take strict action against those found guilty of defacement. In anticipation of the upcoming elections, a dedicated anti-defacement drive will be carried out,” he said.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar

Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Notifications

Get breaking alerts directly from the newsroom

Notifications are on!You'll be notified when news breaks