To ensure 100 per cent polling in the Lok Sabha elections, the Corporation is roping in parents and teachers to spread awareness on a host of issues.
Chennai Corporation Commissioner G Prakash is the District Election Officer and under his guidance Corporation school teachers are undertaking the drive under Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation programme (SVEEP) activity across all zones.
Speaking to News Today, Assistant Education Officer (Zone X), V Shanthi, said, “Our focus is 100 per cent voting. In Zone X alone, there are 29 Corporation schools. Interested teachers, along with parents, are carrying out awareness since 1 March and it will continue till 16 April. We are conducting meetings in public places and low polling areas identified, based on last elections,” she said.
On various methods adopted, Shanthi said, “We are drawing rangoli with messages, distributing pamphlets and pasting stickers on cylinders delivered at households. Also, we are targeting young voters, asking them to take a pledge to vote and also conducted motorcycle rally at MGR Nagar.”
The civic body has prepared a 40-day chart to carry out the awareness programmes. “We are covering four locations per day. So far, we have covered MGR Nagar Market, old age homes, hostels, bus stops and where people gather in large numbers, including cinema halls. Apart from asking public to vote, we are also creating awareness on NOTA and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT),” said S Kathiresan, a teacher at MGR Nagar Primary School. The parents are voluntarily taking part in the awareness programmes and they are given refreshments, said officials.