Boat rally taken out in Baramulla to raise voter awareness

Baramulla, Mar  23: The scenic waters of river Jehlum in north Kashmir’s Baramulla town  came alive as scores of students and young participants embarked on a unique journey of voter awareness on a boat rally on Saturday organised by the Baramulla district administration under the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) initiative.

Flagged off by the Deputy Commissioner  Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, the rally set sail from the iconic suspension bridge at Azad Gunj, winding its way through the  waterways until it reached the eco park in Baramulla, which served as the event's focal point.

The event was aimed at enlightening voters, especially the first-timers, about the significance of the impending Lok Sabha elections.

Bashir Ahmad, one of the buoyant participants,  emphasised the pivotal role of such voter awareness programmes in shaping the civic consciousness of young voters. "The event not only highlights the importance of voting but also instills a sense of responsibility among the electorate," said Bashir Ahmad.

Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Minga Sherpa, while advocating for  the cause of electoral literacy, highlighted the expansive reach of the voter awareness initiative, spanning across all seven assembly constituencies of the district. He said the aim of the SVEEP is to focus on educating students and first-time voters about their electoral rights and the procedural intricacies of enrolment in the voter list.

"In today's voter awareness drive, a substantial number of students, most of whom are eligible voters, actively participated. Our objective is to empower them with the knowledge and understanding necessary to exercise their franchise judiciously," said Deputy Commissioner Baramulla.

Regarding the  political gatherings and rallies, the Deputy Commissioner Baramulla  reiterated the imperative for political parties to obtain prior permission from the District Election Officer in adherence with the Election Commission of India's guidelines. He highlighted the administration's commitment to ensuring strict compliance with the Model Code of Conduct and expenditure monitoring protocols.