Lok Sabha Election , 2014
A Success Story from Bihar: Nalanda
District
AAP KI VOTE AAP KI TAAKAT
BACKGROUND
2
Background
• Lok Sabha Elections, 2014, landmark shift in ECI
approach with emphasis on participative elections.
• Nalanda : A paradox
• Earliest seat of wisdom and learning with international
acclaim
• Only 1 out of every 3 eligible voters in the district
exercised their franchise in the LS- 2009.
• One of the lowest VTR in the country 33%
• Female participation 29%
• Based on broad framework of ECI SVEEP strategy,
customised and improvised at District level
3
CHALLENGES
4
Key Challenges
• Stakeholder Analysis:
• (a) Urban apathy, (b) Rural apathy (c) Female apathy.
− Lack of awareness about importance of voting
− Lack of knowledge about electoral procedures
− Unwelcoming booth ambience
− Lack of enthusiasm in the youth
− Migrant population
− Curfew –Like situation on poll day
• SWOT analysis –Bleak past legacy of low voter turnout
• Conversion of the weaknesses into strength and threats into
opportunities
• Adoption of multi-pronged long drawn strategy over two
months
5
STRATEGY
6
Multi
Pronged
Strategy
7
IMPLEMENTATION
8
Implementation
Public Communication
• Election logo “Nalanda Votes” with a
quote “Aap ki Vote Aap ki Taakat” was
designed and was used in all official
letters as a means for public
communication
• Effective use of mass media
• Strategic selection of locations such as
railways stations, Bank, Post Office, Bus
Stand, Market Centres , Rural Haats
• Use of Hoardings and wall paintings
carrying slogans in local dialect used to
encourage voters to exercise their
right to vote.
• Date of Poll emphasised
9
Implementation
Public Communication
• Door- to- Door movement of ‘Preraks’
of National Literacy Mission and civil
society groups across rural & urban
areas
• Special promotion activities on
National Voters Day, Bihar Diwas,
Women’s Day & festive occasions
such as Holika Dahan
• State Icons
impact
invited
for
maximum
• Publicity through print & electronic
media, local cable TV channels, radio
stations and cinema halls
10
Implementation
Public Communication
• Cartoons and posters for
effective communication
• Regular Press Briefings and
media interactions
• Leading by Example
• Casting of votes by all
important district officials on
the voting day helped in
sending positive message to
the public
11
Implementation
Public Communication - Cartoons
12
Implementation
Public Communication – Rallies, Door to Door Activities & Hoardings
13
Implementation
Gender, Urban & Youth Participation
• International Women’s Day was
leveraged to urge female voters to
vote
• Women were mobilized from
households in minority dominated
areas
•
Anganwadi
Sewikas,
Asha
workers, Sakshar Bharat Preraks)
participated
in
spreading
awareness through rallies & street
plays across urban & rural areas
14
Implementation
Women, Urban & Youth Participation
• Women were involved
and sensitized
through
house to house contacts,
melas and street plays
• Special voter registration
drives & issue of Election
Photo Identity Cards (EPIC)
were
conducted
for
female voters.
• District Icon
• Head SVEEP Committee
• State Icon
15
Implementation
Gender, Urban & Youth Participation
• Demonstrated
power
of
vote
through street plays, human chains,
cycle races, processions etc. to
overcome urban apathy
• Campaigns
shopkeepers/vendors
signing of ‘Sankalp Patras’
for
through
• Awareness activities at places of
heavy footfall including bus stands,
railway stations etc.
• Special voter registration drives &
issue of Election Photo Identity Cards
(EPIC) for urban voters
• Active participation of
campus ambassadors.
girls
as
16
Implementation
Women, Urban & Youth Participation
• Various events were organised
such as quiz, debates, singing
competition, cycle race across
colleges to spread the message
of election & voting
• Interaction with Rural Voters at
Schools, Rangoli Activity, etc.
were undertaken to generate
awareness
• Active participation of school
girls :
• Private and Government
17
Implementation
Voter Education & Awareness
• Nukkad-Natak at ChowkChaouraha/
Anganbari
Centers were organized
• Special events were held
such as forming human
chains with candles, oath
taking for ethical voting at
public
gatherings,
cycle
rallies etc. in order to
motivate voters
• Cultural
programmes
&
similar
events
were
organised to spread the
message of election as a
festival
18
Implementation
Voter Education & Awareness, contd.
• Awareness was spread through school going children to their parents/family
for participation in the election through Sankalp Patras
19
Implementation
Voter Facilitation
• Special Registration drives for
left out voters
• 17 lakhs(85%) Photo Voter slips
were distributed ahead of poll
day through BLO
• 257 model polling stations
• Call centre to help voters in
searching their names in voter
list andidentifying their polling
station.
• Multiple visits to polling booths
with lowest VTR in LS 2009
• Android based Basic Minimum
Facility mapping
20
Implementation
Voter Facilitation
• Polling booths were decorated with
festoons & colored papers so as to
create a festive mood and not a
curfew like situation
• Provision of drinking water, sheds,
toilets for women, ramp, first aid for
physically disabled & old persons
across all polling booths were made
• Proper law and order arrangements
inside polling booths was ensured
including management of queues &
voter friendly environment
21
Implementation
Training & Capacity Building
• Training of trainers was organized for
presiding officers for a hassle free
voting experience on polling day
• Trainings were imparted to all the
booth level officers, sensitizing them
on the important issues relating to
roll revision
• Electors were trained about the
NOTA facility in the ballot unit
• Self-help groups members were
trained through meetings / training
session for conducting awareness
campaigns across communities in
remote locations
• EVM demonstration and hands-on
training was imparted particularly in
the rural and remote areas
22
Implementation
Technology & Social Media
• Awareness
activities
were
undertaken
through
social
media platforms like facebook in
order to proactively engage
youth voters
• Polling date reminders and
polling station details were sent
through SMS
• Mobile based technologies like
IVRS, Caller Tunes etc. were used
for awareness creation
• Polling station locations search
facility was provided through
GIS/Google map
• District website was used to
receive queries/complaints from
voters
23
Implementation
Collaboration
• Information and Public Relations
Department, Education Department
AIR,
Doordarshan,
local
cable
operators were made partners in this
endeavour
• Self Help Groups: leveraging their
reach
• Tie ups were made with anganwadi
centers,
railway
stations,
ATM
counters, Sudha milk counters, banks
buildings for IEC display
24
Implementation
Monitoring & Evaluation
• Formation of District and block level SVEEP Core Committees
• Strict adherence to carefully drafted timelines
• Control chart with mobile numbers, name and designation of the
relevant functionaries were prepared to ensure effective monitoring
• Multiple visits to poorest turnout booths on the lines of RI
• Regular video conferencing, meetings to ensure proper communication
and progress evaluation of partners and field functionaries,
• Evaluation and documentation of every field reports/activities were
undertaken at the requisite level
25
IMPACT
26
OUTCOMES
20
13%
growth
• 62% growth in no. of votes cast at
polling stations
19.5
− Significant increase in increase in
Female voters - 79%
• Voters turnout improved from
33.1% in 2009 to 47.3% in 2014
− Significant improvement in
Female voters turnout - from
29.1% in 2009 to 45.8% in 2014
− Male voters turnout improved from
36.5% in 2009 to 48.6% in 2014
• 13% growth in Registered voters
17.2
Nos. in lakhs
− 50% increase in Male voters
15
62%
growth
10
9.22
5
5.69
Turnout
33.1%
Turnout
47.3%
0
2009
Registered voters
2014
Votes cast
27
THANK YOU
Thank You
Thank you
28