India Book of Records: 40 lakh women take pledge to ensure more voting in LS polls

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaApril 10, 2024

More than 40 lakh women members of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) of Assam on Wednesday took a pledge for more voting in the upcoming Lok Sabha election scripting a record in the India Book of Records.

The initiative was taken by the chief electoral officer (CEO), Assam along with the Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission (ASRLM) and the Assam State Urban Livelihoods Mission (ASULM).

The initiative was aimed at upholding the democratic traditions of the country and the dignity of free, fair and peaceful elections. It also envisioned improving electoral participation not just in terms of numbers but also in terms of quality through the effective implementation of Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP), a flagship programme of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The members of SHGs ‘Sarathi Baideo’ took an active role and held help desks at various government outlets in consultation with district administration and district election offices.

In the meeting held at the office of the CEO, the India Book of Records adjudicator Narvijay Yadav was present who verified the procedure and announced the record for completion of the pledge-taking event.

Yadava presented the certificate to the CEO Anurag Goel.

ASRLM mission director Masanda Pertin, joint CEO Pankaj Chakravarty and Emily Baruah were also present at the meeting.

 On March 30, the CEO signed a memorandum of understanding with ASRLM and Assam State Urban Livelihood Mission (ASURLM) to ensure 100 per cent polling in the upcoming elections.

Under the agreement, the ASRLM will spread awareness among 39 lakh rural voters out of 2.43 crore state voters to exercise their franchise in the upcoming elections.

Under the clauses of the agreement, the Sarathi Women Help Desk will be opened at various government settlements, including the gram panchayat office and cooperative society office, CLF and VO office to facilitate women voters to verify their names and detect on the electoral roll. The Help Desk will also help women voters to get acquainted with the helpline numbers 1950.