Ready for a different role

Ranchi, Nov. 8: They have not reached the voting age yet, but that does not mean that they cannot take part in the democratic process of choosing the people’s representatives.

Schoolchildren of the Ranchi district have a defining role in the approaching Assembly elections. Help of Bal Sansads (Children’s Parliament) will be taken to increase voting percentage in the district, where less than 50 per cent voters had exercised their franchise in the last Assembly polls.

Confirming this to The Telegraph today, Ranchi district superintendent of education (DSE) Pradeep Choubey said that the decision was taken after a meeting between deputy commissioner K.K. Soan and literacy workers at Balkrishna High School on Saturday. The decision was taken in the wake of a directive from the Election Commission of India, the DSE added.

“During his meeting with literacy workers, the deputy commissioner showed the copy of Election Commission’s direction and asked them to play a proactive role for spreading awareness among the voters,” he said.

Bal Sansads have been set up at all schools for familiarising the students with the country’s democratic set-up at the direction of Unicef.

Choubey said that more than 23,000 students, associated with 2,300 Bal Sansads of government and government-aided schools, will be mobilised to spread awareness among voters in the district.

“The students will be roped in for morning processions on November 18, 21, 26 and 27. They will spread awareness both in rural and urban areas. They will also give regular reminders about poll dates to their parents and ask them to vote on the scheduled dates,” Choubey said.

President of Federation of Chambers of Commerce Anchal Kinger welcomed the effort, saying that his organisation was also planning a similar exercise. “It is necessary to make the voters aware about good candidates. We have seen that voters in town areas usually prefer staying at home on election days. The Bal Sansads will help change their mindset,” he said.

According to data available with the Election Commission, 1,01,31,767 out of 1,77,66,200 voters had turned up to exercise their franchise in the last Assembly elections in the state. The total percentage was 57.03.