Electoral literacy campaign to be launched in 410 districts

Election Commission has decided to launch a voter literacy programme in 365 districts of 26 states, including Odisha, to bring all voters to polling booths.
The campaign, to be launched along with the National Literacy Mission Authority (NLMA), would also target 45 districts hit by Left Wing Extremism (LWEs).
The campaign would cover 410 districts, NLMA Joint Director A M Rajasekhar said while presenting a paper at the National Consultation on Women's participation in Electoral process here.
Rajasekhar said EC has identified several impediments to women's participation in the polling process including low literacy and lack of participation in political processes.

"Under the new arrangement, the NLMA will extend assistance to the electoral registration officers and the booth-level officers to identify and enrol eligible women voters residing in the polling station area," he said.
The NLMA will also include electoral literacy in its curriculum for adult literacy and basic education.

He said focus would be given on different stakeholders in Saakhyar Bharat, a flagship programme for adult education, which would increase awareness among the voters.
EC would provide technical guidance and assistance in designing activities and content related to electoral literacy. The NLMA has designed an Inter-Personal Media Campaign with electoral literacy as one of the themes, he said.

Rajasekhar said a pilot programme on electoral literacy campaign was started in Rajasthan and followed by similar programmes in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Chhattishgarh.
Based on how successful it is, the programme would be replicated in other targeted districts, he said.
In his valedictory address, Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi said EC would take steps to attract women voters to booths.
"Neutrality of EC will be maintained during revision of voters list and enrolment of women in the polling process," he said.