In a proactive move to enhance voter participation in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Dr. Suhas Diwase, the Pune Collector, is championing the involvement of citizens in Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) initiatives. Emphasizing the need for direct engagement across various sectors, he has called for intensified awareness campaigns to drive voter turnout. Dr. Diwase has also stressed the importance of ensuring that all election-duty-assigned personnel exercise their voting rights through postal ballots.
The call for active involvement in SVEEP initiatives was made during a coordination officers’ meeting at the Collectorate for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Key officials, including Ramesh Chavan, CEO of Zila Parishad, and Meenal Kalaskar, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, joined Dr. Diwase in addressing the challenge of escalating voting percentages.
Dr. Diwase proposed targeted outreach efforts in residential complexes, industrial setups, and collaborations with IT companies in Hinjawadi to mobilize employees from the IT sector for voting. Strategies were discussed to boost voter turnout in constituencies with less than fifty percent participation, involving coordination with educational institutions to engage student voters.
Highlighting the role of women’s self-help groups in amplifying female voter participation, Dr. Diwase advocated for prompt ballot paper certification among election-appointed officers and employees. CEO Ramesh Chavan echoed the importance of empowering women through self-help groups under the District Rural Development System to augment female voter turnout.
The meeting delved into logistical arrangements, training protocols, and adherence to election guidelines to ensure a smooth electoral process. The collaborative efforts led by Dr. Suhas Diwase aim to create awareness and encourage active participation, ultimately elevating the overall voter turnout in Pune during the Lok Sabha elections.
