Lok Sabha Elections 2019: Residents of Wakad, Pimple Saudagar and Rahatani go online to boost voter turnout

The residents of Wakad, Pimple Saudagar and Rahatani areas, dominated by people working in information technology (IT)/ IT-enabled services (ITeS) sector, are proactive in using the social media to register their names as voters for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

According to the members of the Pimpri Chinchwad Co-operative Housing societies Federation (seen in picture), out of the four lakh registered voters in the areas, it managed to add one lakh through the initiative.(HT/PHOTO)

The Pimpri Chinchwad Co-operative Housing societies Federation set up a booth in Kalpataru Society, but did not receive the desired results as many people did not come to register as voters and civic body could not provide adequate staff.

“About three months ago, we had set up a booth to help facilitate residents to fill up the voter registration forms. Many people submitted their forms, but Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) abandoned the service citing poor manpower,” said Sudhir Deshmukh, founder and legal cell member, Pimpri Chinchwad Co-operative Housing societies Federation.

Hence, the federation proposed holding an online drive as per the decision taken by the Election Commission of India (ECI), which got a massive response from Pimpri-Chinchwad areas.

Bhagwat Phad, a resident of Malpani Greens, said, “We informed residents through WhatsApp about voter registration, required documents, location of enrolment centres and other details.”

Yogesh Sharma, who lives at Anukul Residency B, Kaspate Vasti in Wakad, said, “The committee verified members’ name online. The residents whose names were not found on the list were informed to visit the nearby enrolment station. We also announced information about special camps for registration.”

According to the federation, out of the 4 lakh registered voters, it managed to add 1 lakh through the initiative.

“We have 350 housing societies registered with us. We use social media, including Facebook and Twitter, and bombard every resident with information and request to come forward and register online. We got every society chairperson and secretary to get involved and take up the role of block level officers for their respective societies,” said KC Garg, secretary of the federation.

Point person

205 Chinchwad, US Thombare, mobile/WhatsApp: 9922761209, email: 205chinchwadelc@gmail.com, address: 2nd Floor, Yashwantrao Chavhan School, Thergaon 411033

206 Pimpri, Sanjay Kulkarni, mobile/WhatsApp: 9765706451, email: 206pimpriac2014@gmail.com address: Dr. Hedgewar Bhawan, Sector 26, Nigdi Pradhikaran 411044

207 Bhosari, AV Nikam, mobile/WhatsApp: 8806936403, email: 207bhosari@gmail.com address: Annasaheb Magar Stadium, Nehru Nagar 411044