BHOPAL: In a first kind of its initiative, the Election Commission of India has reached out to over 150 Community Radio stations from across the country to help educate and inform the voters. A meeting of community radio representatives will be called soon in the state capital, confirmed joint CEO Abhijeet Agarwal. He said that election commission is adopting all ways to reach to every voter. Community radio will definitely help election commission reach interior areas, he added.
Joint CEO Abhijeet Agarwal said that Community Radio can play an important role in strengthening democracy by developing content in their local dialects and deepening the process of voter education and awareness upto the grass root levels. He added that Community Radio Stations will now become an integral part of the voter education programme. The officials of election commission of India said that the radio stations will broadcast programmes in their own dialect and will develop 5 programmes each, besides broadcasting promotional material. A workshop was held recently in New Delhi, where representatives from community radio were present.
Umesh Sinha, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner ECI had said that the Community Radio workshops were just the beginning to a long term and sustained engagement and Community Radio can play a vital role in motivating and mobilising the voters, enlisting the underserved voters into the electoral roll, mobilising them to go to the polling booth, educating them about their rights and responsibilities, and making them an informed and educated voter.
To play role in SVEEP activities
Radio stations will broadcast programmes in their own dialect and will develop 5 programmes each, besides broadcasting promotional material. Developing content in their local dialects and deepening the process of voter education and awareness upto the grass root levels. Motivate and mobilize voters, enlisting the underserved voters into the electoral roll educate them about their rights and responsibilities