SVEEP team conducts voter awareness seminar

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, April 14

The Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) team of the district election office, Bathinda, on Saturday organised a seminar at Punjab Institute of Technology, Nandgarh (a constituent college of MRSPTU, Bathinda), to spread awareness about the importance of ethical voting.

The seminar was organised as part of the ongoing programme of the Election Commission of India to dispel misconceptions about EVM (electronic voting machine) and VVPAT (Voter verifiable paper audit trail) by creating awareness among the students. Students from all the departments BCA, BBA, BCom (Hons), MBA, MCom attended the seminar.

A presentation was given on EVM-VVPAT by Suresh Gaur, Assistant Nodal Officer, SVEEP team, Bathinda. Gaur elaborated on the technological features and transparency aspects laid down by the ECI for handling EVM/VVPAT.

He said, “The VVPAT has enabled the voters to verify their vote through the printed paper slip at the time of casting their vote. There are new mobile apps developed by the ECI, particularly Voter Helpline App, PwD App and cVIGIL App. The cVIGIL App can be used by citizens to upload live pictures or videos of any violations of the model code of conduct during the election process.”

He emphasised that ethical voting depended upon informed voting and every voter must make use of the information put in the public domain and then assess the candidates before making his decision.

A mock poll session was also conducted by SVEEP team members Jagdeep Singh and Mani Goyal for students to enable them to use EVM/VVPAT machines to provide them first-hand experience on casting votes.

Harmandeep Kaur Kullar, academic in-charge, Punjab Institute of Technology, exhorted the students that as a responsible citizen they must cast their votes in the upcoming 2019 Lok Sabha election to maintain democratic values in our country.

Dr Balwinder Singh, director of PIT, lauded the move to organize an awareness seminar by the SVEEP team and expressed gratitude to one and all for being a part of the event. He said holding such events would go a long way in preserving the democratic fabric of the nation.