In an effort to promote active participation in ensuing Lok Sabha elections, the district administration has launched an extensive public awareness campaign under the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) initiative. The efforts were acknowledged and honoured by the Elite World Record and India Record Academy for their voter literacy programme. Historic Kasturchand Park was the venue, on Saturday, where the voter literacy programme commenced at 6 am under the rising sun. Dr Vipin Itankar, District Collector and District Election Officer, led the initiative. The administration had set the target attendance for the voter awareness programme at 7,500 voters. The Nagpurians, over 8,100 of them, made it to the record books with this exemplary attendence.

 

Principal Secretary of Labour Department, Vinita Singal; Divisional Commissioner Vijayalakshmi Bidari; Police Commissioner Dr Ravinder Singal; Additional Commissioner Dr Madhavi Khode-Chawre; Municipal Commissioner Dr Abhijeet Chaudhari; and other dignitaries graced the occasion. The organisers divided the attendees into blocks, with NCC youths who also were present in full uniform. Representatives from Elite World Record and India Record Academy personally inspected the event and declared Nagpur’s voter awareness drive a record-breaking success. Dr Itankar, honoured with the Best Electoral Practice Award 2023 by the Election Commission of India.

 

Under mission Yuva undertaken by the district administration saw 75,000 youths registering their names in the voters’ list. An audio-video titled ‘Adhikar Hai’ was released during the event to further enhance the voter literacy and increase voter turnout. On the occasion, Dr Itankar administered an oath to all attendees to encourage maximum voting. The event also saw participation from various public figures including Asian player Ojas Pravin Deotale, cricketer Vrudraj Raut, transgender activist Vidya Kamble, world’s shortest woman Jyoti Amge among others. Zilla Parishad Chief Executive Officer Saumya Sharma extended gratitude to all the attendees, while Manish Soni, PRO of NMC, moderated the programme.