In a groundbreaking effort that stands out in the country, the Bokaro administration in Jharkhand has undertaken a unique approach to boost voter turnout in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
By organising parent-teacher meetings (PTMs) in 1,560 schools on Friday, the administration engaged parents in conversations about the importance of voting. Additionally, 14,000 self-help groups (SHGs) collaborated to raise awareness among rural residents, reaching out directly to approximately 230,000 people in a single day.
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Targeting Voter Turnout Increase
The district, which experienced around 51% voter turnout in the 2019 elections, has embarked on a wide-ranging campaign to enhance voter participation in the May 25 Lok Sabha elections. These efforts have received praise from various quarters for the district administration’s innovative strategies.
Community Engagement
Jadhav Vijaya Narayan Rao, the deputy commissioner (DC) and district election officer of Bokaro, described the scope of the campaign: “We organised parent-teacher meetings in 1,560 schools to promote awareness of voting, engaging around 92,000 parents. Simultaneously, 14,000 self-help groups held sessions with women across 796 villages in the district, involving approximately 151,732 women in conversations about their role in the electoral process.”
Empowering Civic Participation
Overall, these combined efforts engaged over 2.30 lakhs individuals in a single day, underscoring the importance of civic engagement and voter registration. Rao highlighted the main goal of these events: “Our objective is to raise awareness of the May 25 voting day and to ensure missing voters are registered. This will prevent anyone from being deprived of their voting rights during the election period. Participants in both the PTMs and SHG sessions pledged to vote on Election Day and fulfill their civic duty.”
Voter Convenience Support
Officials responsible for managing the campaigns across blocks were instrumental in ensuring the success of the events. SVEEP’s Nodal Officer Prabhash Dutta participated in a voting awareness meeting in Chandankyari block, where he discussed the administration’s preparations for a smooth voting process.
Dutta emphasised several measures for voter convenience at polling stations, such as shelters, drinking water, accessible facilities for the disabled, tricycles and volunteers for elderly voters, and separate queues for senior and disabled voters. Urban polling stations will also offer seating and parking facilities.
Voter Assistance Resources
A variety of voter assistance tools have been made available to address voting-related issues, including the Voter Help Line App, C-Vigil App, and helpline number (1950). Voters without an ID card can use alternative documents such as Aadhaar cards, MNREGA job cards, and driving licenses to cast their votes.
The district administration’s inventive approach to involving parents, self-help groups, and community members demonstrates a strong commitment to ensuring fair and inclusive participation in the Lok Sabha elections. Through these initiatives, the district aims to set an example of civic engagement and responsible voting.
