To 'awaken' the voters in Hoshiarpur constituency, girl students of the JR government polytechnic here took out a ‘Jago’ on Thursday.
Attired in traditional Punjabi outfits, they sang Punjabi 'bolian' on the poll theme .
Like the traditional ‘Jago’ taken out ahead of Punjabi weddings,one of the girls carried a decorated, candle-lit pot on her head to “announce the arrival of elections”. The ‘Jago’ procession was flagged off by election awareness observer Rajesh K Jha who appreciated the initiative and hoped that it would raise voter awareness.
As Hoshiarpur was one of the three districts to have registered a low voter turnout in the previous elections, a lot of activities are taking place under the SVEEP (Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation) project to ensure maximum participation of voters in the polling process.
From magic shows to pasting awareness stickers on LPG cylinders and sweet boxes, the administration is using every trick to attract voters to the polling stations. Five mobile vans have been pressed into service to reach out to voters of remote areas. A ‘half marathon’ has been planned in the city for April 5.
For the first time, election awareness observers were appointed by the Election Commission to oversee the preparation of electoral machinery in respect of voter awareness. Jha visited a number of polling booths in Hoshiarpur and Chabbewal assembly segments which had witnessed low polling percentage in the 2009 elections.
{{/usCountry}}For the first time, election awareness observers were appointed by the Election Commission to oversee the preparation of electoral machinery in respect of voter awareness. Jha visited a number of polling booths in Hoshiarpur and Chabbewal assembly segments which had witnessed low polling percentage in the 2009 elections.
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, randomisation of electronic machines was done on Thursday under the supervision of deputy commissioner-cum-district electoral officer Tanu Kashyap.