SVEEP initiatives
in
Chamarajanagar District
during Lokasabha Elections 2014
Presented by,
Dr. K.H.Narasimha murthy,
Chief Executive Officer,
Zilla Panchayath, Chamarajanagar.
Chairman, SVEEP.
Date : 22-08-2014
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Basic Inforamtion
• Population : 10,20,791
• Literacy Rate: 61%
• Socio-Economic background:
 Scheduled Caste and Tribes are more in number, followed by OBCs.

Agriculture is the primary source of income.
• Geographical details:
 Total forest cover of 52%.
 Bordering Tamil Nadu and Kerala states
8 April 2015
3
Observed Draw backs
Previous Elections
•
•
•
•
•
Low/Non participation of Marginalized sections like people with
disabilities & transgender
Poor voting turnout among forest dwellers/tribal voters.
Poor Urban voting.
Boycott threats – due to various reasons like developmental hiccups
etc..
A gender gap of 5% in voting turn out
Total Voter Turnout in 2009 : 69%
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Strategy
(Based on Inclusion Motivation Facilitation)
Phase I :
Enrollment drive :
 Wave like programs at all levels of the district involving:
 college students
 Home guards
 Anganawadi / ASHA Workers


For Organizing Jathas, Meetings and door to door
campaign.
As a result of this 17,000 + new applications received for
enrollment.
Phase II :


Goals :
Promoting Ethical voting practices.
Achieving 100% voters turn out.
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Target Groups

Transgender voters.

Voters with disabilities.

Urban Voters.

Forest Dwellers / Tribal Voters.

Women Voters.

Young Voters.
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Transgender Voters



The Most visibly invisible Group.
One to one interaction with community members.
Partnered with SAMATHA, a community Based initiative
working with transgender group.
Outcome


Topped the state in transgender voter turn out – though a
small number, but had far reaching effect.
Around 400+ transgender individuals have come forward to
enroll themselves now.
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People with Disabilities
(A Vulnerable Group)
Organized :
 Mock polling camp.
 an exclusive EVM familiarization camp for Visually Challenged
100+ voters participated
 12 EVM familiarization camps for people with disability - 1500+
participated
 Sensitized polling officials on the special needs of these voters while
voting. (Time limit)
 Partnered with Mobility India (NGO) to implement these initiatives.
Outcome



Better awareness among the group now
Media feedback indicated positive feelers among these voters in
specific and in the public in general.
Better response from this group towards ongoing enrollment drive.
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Forest Dwellers / Tribal Voters
(A Marginal Group - Facing geographical as well as developmental crisis.)

Organized 5- one to one interaction meets with tribal voters
- 10,000+ direct participation.

Involved Ashrama School teachers to provide motivation through one to
one interaction involving door to door visit.

Coordinated with Forest Department to arrange vehicle facilities on
Voting day - Involved polling party vehicles too.
Overall Outcome

An increase of 9% in voter turnout in Hanur A/C
(Predominately Forest area)

Better response for the ongoing enrollment drive.
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Urban Apathy
Multi level approach to tackle Urban apathy.
• Involved Post Graduate students of PG Center, University of
Mysore - conducted door to door campaigns.
•
Involved under Graduate students to conduct door to door
campaigns.
•
Organized Mega Jathas in all the 5-Urban centers.
•
Organized Candle Marches.
Overall Outcome
•
•
An increase of 16% in voter turnout (From 53% to 69%)
Visible response for the ongoing enrollment drive.
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Bridging the Gender Gap
(Unique Socio-Economic & Religious realities often result
in poor participation among women)
Hence

Involved women SHGs to motivate women Voters
- 4000+ Stree-shakthi (SHG) actively participated.

Partnered with Mahila Samakya & MYRADA (NGOs)

Around one lakh New-literates (Literacy Mission) of the district
took out simultaneous Jathas in all 120-GPs of the district.
Outcome

The Gender gap got reduced to 2.5% from the previous 5%
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women voter awareness meets
The Resolved Boycotts
Due to various socio-legal-political reasons 5 villages threatened to boycott
Loksabha Elections.

Purani Podu
(A tribal hamlet which had boycotted assembly elections of 2013)

Doddane
(A village in the heart of M.M.Hills Forest)
Moodala Agrahara

Ramapura

Surapura.
• Personal visits were done - interacted with the voters –
convinced them to participate in the voting process.

Outcome
•
70% to 80% voter turnout in all the 5 villages.
NO BOYCOTTS.
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Over all Out Come

An increase of 6% in overall voting from the previous 69% to 75%

An increase of 16% voter turnout among Urban Voters.

An increase of 9% voter turnout in Forest areas.

Reduced Gender gap : 2.5% from the previous 5%
BUT ….The Truth lies Beyond the Numbers :

The most Invisible-Marginal-Vulnerable groups are brought to the
main stream.

The District Administrative System interacted at multi levels with the
voters on one to one basis.
 Conducive Environment has been created in the district.
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News papers reports about
SVEEP Activities
A Few Suggestions
1.
Audio enabled EVMs are needed so that Visually Challenged
Voters could vote more confidently.
2.
Consistent and sustained engagement with tribal voters is
needed, as they are often at the receiving end of various
developmental activities.
3.
Urban Apathy needs constructive approach.
•
Attempts to remove various bottlenecks like lack of proper drinking water
and drainage facilities is the need of the hour. Otherwise motivating urban
voters in the coming days is difficult.
•
Good coordination among the various departments working in the urban
areas.
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….. Our Aim is to change the MIND SET OF PEOPLE.
SVEEP has to SWEEP NOW !!!
It has to happen Now….Otherwise it will Never !!!.....
Thank You…
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