Make SHEEP programme effective: CEO
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, November 18 2021:
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manipur Rajesh Agrawal stressed on the need of making SVEEP programme effective and asked all the district election officers to understand the objectives and importance of SVEEP programme launched by the Election Commission of Ind^a (ECI) in 2009 .
He was speaking at the State Level SVEEP Consultation Workshop or- ganised by office of Chief Electoral Officer at Imperial Hall, Hotel Classic Grande, Chingmeirong oh Thursday.
During the workshop, short videos titled Power of 18 Anthem, Short Explainer Videos on Voter Helpline App and Voter Portal were launched by the CEO in presence of ECI under secretary Guncha Batra Aneja and her team.
We The People', a multi lingual anthem by the DEO, Churachandpur was also launched.
Highlighting the three core objectives of SVEEP - Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation Programme, Rajesh Agrawal said that the first and foremost objective of SVEEP is educating voters particularly the first timers or delayed ones about the importance of enrolment and participation in electoral practices.
He stressed that to make voters proactive they need to be made aware about the entire electoral process to achieve the goal of SVEEP which is to build a truly participative democracy in the country by encouraging all eligible citizens to vote and make an informed decision during the elections.
The CEO, while referring to findings of draft report on Baseline Survey of Knowledge, Attitude and Practices (KAP) of Citizens in Manipur, 2021 conducted under the leadership of Centre for Entrepreneurship & Skill Development MU director Prof Ch Ibohal Meitei, said that there is still a need of creating mass awareness among people about Voter Centres (VCs)/Mat-data Sahayata Kendra, WPAT and other necessary information about the electoral process.
He said that Voter Education needs to be institutionalised to make a long-term impact on election mechanism and early awareness and voter education amongst the young voters through ELCs at educational institutions is highly needed.
Rajesh Agrawal also emphasised on the need to gain trust of the people and make them aware that their votes matter and the effort of casting their vote is valuable.
He further highlighted the significance of awareness programmes on the electoral process such as awareness on EVM, WPAT operation and other applications created for election purposes.
The trust of people can only be gained by making them aware of how election is conducted and returning officers should disseminate information about the entire electoral process.
The doubts lurking in the minds of people will be lessened if awareness is disseminated effectively, he added.
The CEO further mentioned that the third and one of the most important objectives of SVEEP is motivating the voters to come out and cast their valuable vote on the poll day.
Giving adequate information about polling station and the adequate amenities such as hygienic toilets, good building and creating awareness about the candidates as per the directions of ECI will enable the voters in making the right decision.
Giving adequate information to the voters about the details of polling stations and the provisions of AMF such as good hygienic atmosphere and proper infrastructure in compliance with the instructions of ECI is also an important step to be initiated by the election officials, he explained and added that sincere effort from the election officials will impact the minds of the people and effective implementation of SVEEP will contribute to a better voter turnout.
The workshop was attended by additional CEO N Praveen, joint CEOs Ramananda Nongmeikapam and Md S Daulat Khan, District Election Officers and Electoral Registration Officers among others.
During the workshop power point presentations on SVEEP and KAP Survey was also presented by five core working groups on various electoral related themes.
Discussion and thematic presentations were conducted in groups on the topics 'The Usage of Social Media to amplify SVEEP', 'Focused Strategy on Faster Voter Registration', 'On-Boarding the PwDs, Transgender and Marginalised Section with Registration' and 'Participation, Workable Strategy on Ethical Voting and Ensuing Higher Voter Turnouts'.
Information & Public Relations Director H Balkrishna and Regional Outreach Bureau, Imphal assistant director Aribam Ibomcha Sharma expressed their views on the topics of the workshop.
The programme concluded with a cultural programme.
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