After coming out with an election mascot
for the four parliamentary constituencies under Darjeeling, the
Election Commission of India today started a ‘Sankalpa Patra’ to
motivate and mobilise voters to participate in the upcoming polls, the
world's largest democratic exercise.
The Sankalpa Patra or pledge letter has
been sent to parents via their wards by various schools under the ECI’s
directive and reads, "I am grateful to you for imparting education to
me. Education will light up my life. It will also embolden me to make my
decision according to my own will in keeping with the spirit of our
democracy. I request you and other elders in the family to commit to
yourself to vote in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections for the sake of our
brighter future.”
As part of this pledge, the district
administration invited parents of wards studying in various schools to
participate in an awareness programme to educate them further on voting
rights.
In one such programme at the Nepali
Girls’ Higher Secondary School, election awareness observer Alok Mishra
told the gathered, "The Election Commission is worried about voter
turnout in various places across the country as the count has been
decreasing. In most places unlike here, total votes cast are only about
60 to 70 per cent.
“After conducting a survey, it was found
out that most people are not interested in voting as they do not like
the candidates. Hence, the option of the NOTA (None of the above) button
has been started."
He added, "The Election Commission wants
to make voting a memorable experience and facilities such as toilets,
water supply and shades to beat hot weather conditions are being
provided so that people can vote without being under duress. We request
people to vote in huge numbers and make this 16th Lok Sabha election a
success.”
On the other hand, Nepali Girls Higher
Secondary School headmistress Aditi Ghosh addressed the parents by
saying, "This is the first time that such an awareness programme is
being held to make people aware of their voting rights. As citizens of
this country, we should play a vital role in shaping our nation and this
I believe can be achieved through exercising of franchise. This
Sankalpa Patra is a request from a child to their parents to ensure the
wards have a better future."
In the run-up to the first phase of the
Lok Sabha polls in Bengal on April 17, the ECI has chosen the endearing
and endangered Red Panda, synonymous with the Darjeeling hills, as the
election mascot, which is also a historic first.(EOIC)