Admn offers incentives for senior voters, first-timers

Tribune news service

Amritsar, January 18

To encourage voters, especially the first timers, the district administration today announced incentives, including heavy discounts and offers on eating out and creating a network of social groups to spread awareness. ADC Sonali Giri today held a meeting with members of NGO’s, hoteliers and printing press owners to discuss various activities being launched under the voter awareness campaign.

“Since it will be first time that citizens will be voting for both Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls, it becomes significant to understand the importance of exercising the right to vote. We have already initiated a pledge-signing activity across schools in the district with 25,000 signing to be a part of the awareness network to get their parents and elders in family to vote. We will also be hosting a Walk for Vote to promote the importance of voting on January 25 at Company Bagh on the National Voters’ Day,” said Giri. The Walk for Vote will be attended by members of the civil society, NGOs, school and college students and children of government employees.

The administration has also tied up with government school in Karampura to hold a cycle rally for awareness. Apart from these awareness activities, hoteliers and restaurant owners in the city will also offer heavy discounts to first time voters and senior citizen voters as an encouragement and appreciation after casting their vote. The district administration has already held writing competitions, selfie contests and other creative activities for voter initiation.

In a meeting with printing press owners, Giri assured that 1.5 lakh pamphlets promoting these activities will be given to the district administration without any cost. Giri will also hold a special awareness meeting with parents and teachers of all government schools on January 31 in this regard.