The Election Commission in Thane has started inducting college students as volunteers and campus ambassadors in a bid to ensure that every citizen gets to exercise their fundamental right to vote. They will be included in the awareness programmes to be initiated once election dates are announced. They will also keep an eye out for any code of conduct violations on social media sites.
"Including students in the awareness programmes will help spread the word among fellow classmates. We have written to the principals of colleges within Thane district and asked them to co-operate. The colleges keep details of students' birth dates and can easily check if those who have turned 18 have enrolled in the electoral process. We also conducted various camps in colleges for enrollment," says P Velarasu, Collector, Thane district.
"In the month of July, we had organised a meet in Kalyan of all the members of the National Service Scheme (NSS). We conducted sessions whereby these master trainers now know the details of students who have turned 18 in their respective colleges. They have been assigned to check if these students have filled all the forms and registered for the election card. The trainers will give the final report to campus ambassadors who will also head the various awareness programmes that will ensure that every first time voter casts their vote," says Madhavi Sardeshmukh, district deputy electoral officer.
Students who have already turned 18-years-old, but still do not have an electoral card will also be asked to register thereby ensuring that most of the youngsters have their names on the electoral list this assembly elections.
Dhruvi Mahadeo from Saket college, Kalyan is a campus ambassador, "We have already started our work and have made a list of students who have turned 18 and given them enrollment forms. Most of them have submitted it with relevant papers but we will be checking with the rest as well. We are glad that we have an opportunity to be a part of this task."
Meanwhile the authorities ensured that the Thane-Palghar divide will not affect the election process, "The Thane-Palghar divide will not affect the election process in any way as that region was considered a separate constituency earlier as well. It will not result in much changes in the electoral process," says Sardeshmukh.
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