Most government colleges in the city don’t have any posters, banners and hoardings on voters’ awareness, even as most of college students are first-time voters. In Madhya Pradesh, the total number of voters of in the age-group between 18 and 19 years is pegged at 15 lakh. In Bhopal, the number of voters in this group stands at 38,362.
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Madhya Pradesh had announced various activities in educational institutions to make the young voters aware and persuade them to vote under the voter awareness drive called ‘SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ education and Electoral participation) of the Election Commission.
Commissioner, Higher education, had issued a circular to all its subordinate offices to put up posters, banners and hoardings to increase voter awareness and ensure 100 per cent voting in ensuing assembly election on November 28. The CEO has also appointed nodal officers and campus ambassadors in around 16 government and semi-government colleges in the city. However, nothing seems to have been done.
When this reporter visited some government colleges in the city on Monday noon, including MLB College, MVM, Naveen College and Govt. Law College in the city, she found no posters, banners and hoardings at the college campuses. Even some students were unable to say the correct date of the polls.
Asked why, nodal officer, MLB College, Dr Shalini Saxena told Free Press, “We work according to instructions and orders from our principal and the Election Commission. We have organised various activities to make students aware. The activities include poster-making competition, Palkon ke Naam Pati etc. We also administer oath to both students and their parents.”
“We haven’t received any order to put up hoardings and banners with date of election from the EC. We haven’t received any funds from the poll panel. We are spending from our personal coffers,” Saxena added. “We are now busy in master training. But we have done whatever we could with the help of our resources and expenditure. We don’t get any funds from the EC. Last time, campus ambassadors got something around Rs 2,000 but this year they are yet to receive any amount. Some amount should be given to them to boost their morale,” said nodal officer, Govt. Benazeer College, Rakesh Saxena.
Nodal Officer, Dr. Laxmi Baroliya, said “We had put up posters and banners, made by students in the college. It may have been defaced or worn off. We have campus ambassadors for this work and they have done a decent job. We don’t get funds from the poll panel but we got an assurance from the principal. For now, we have contributed for purpose.”