SVEEP in effort to reach more voters in Udupi

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, April 8, 2018: Udupi DC Priyanka Mary Francis said that SVEEP programmes are being conducted extensively and the district administration is taking all measures to raise awareness about voting rights among individuals.

Speaking to  media on April 7, Saturday, the DC said that the SVEEP programmes are being introduced through audio visual clippings in both Tulu and Kannada languages. The Yakshagana plots are used to convince the voters to exercise their rights. She said that the CD comprising the awareness messages would be displayed at public junctions. Invitations are also being launched wherein the public will be invited to vote. This particular exercise is being taken up at the polling booths where a low turnout of voters was reported in the last Assembly and parliamentary elections. Nearly 7,000 people in 70 polling booths would be targetted, she said.

DC added that two role models have been chosen from the district and they are Mamatha Poojary and Karthik Kateel. Besides, some readymade videos and video clippings are also being sent by the state. The demonstrations are being held at panchayats. She said that on Sunday, the voters will be requested to visit their respective polling booths and verify the inclusion of their names. If the names do not figure in the voters’ list, they can enroll on the spot by giving their details by April 14.

She added that there are two websites that have been launched wherein politicians can seek permission for various activities. She said that Samadhana and Suvidha are two website applications. Samadhana website applications can be used by the public to register complaints against the violations of poll code of conduct, while Suvidha can be utilised by politicians for seeking permissions for rallies. A pre-certification is required for bulk SMSes to be sent to promote the campaigning messages.

Udupi DC added that on April 8,  Sunday the district administration, along with Red Cross, will be organising a special SVEEP drive for specially challenged by conducting eye and ear checkup. Zilla Panchayat CEO Shivanand Kapashi said that Maoist-prone areas are also being given more importance to create awareness about the voting rights. Wherever the public have decided to boycott, separate drives will be held to convince them. Ucchila- Bada, Henguvalli and Kukkehalli are some of the villages that have been taken into consideration.