Lok Sabha Election , 2014A Success Story from Bihar: Nalanda District

AAP KI VOTE AAP KI TAAKAT

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BACKGROUND

Background

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• 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

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CHALLENGES

Key Challenges

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• 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

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STRATEGY

Multi ProngedStrategy

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IMPLEMENTATION

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Public CommunicationImplementation

• 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

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Public CommunicationImplementation

• 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 invited for maximum impact

• Publicity through print & electronic media, local cable TV channels, radio stations and cinema halls

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Public CommunicationImplementation

• 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

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Public Communication - CartoonsImplementation

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Public Communication – Rallies, Door to Door Activities & Hoardings

Implementation

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Gender, Urban & Youth ParticipationImplementation

• 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

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Women, Urban & Youth ParticipationImplementation

• 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

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Gender, Urban & Youth ParticipationImplementation

• Demonstrated power of vote through street plays, human chains, cycle races, processions etc. to overcome urban apathy

• Campaigns for shopkeepers/vendors through signing of ‘Sankalp Patras’

• 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 girls as campus ambassadors.

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Women, Urban & Youth ParticipationImplementation

• 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

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Voter Education & AwarenessImplementation

• Nukkad-Natak at Chowk-Chaouraha/ 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

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Voter Education & Awareness, contd. Implementation

• Awareness was spread through school going children to their parents/family for participation in the election through Sankalp Patras

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Voter FacilitationImplementation

• 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

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Voter FacilitationImplementation

• 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

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Training & Capacity BuildingImplementation

• 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

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Technology & Social MediaImplementation

• 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

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CollaborationImplementation

• 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

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Monitoring & EvaluationImplementation

• 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

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IMPACT

OUTCOMES

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2009 20140

5

10

15

20

17.2

19.5

5.69

9.22

Registered votersLinear (Registered voters)

No

s. in

lakh

s

62% growth

13% growth

Turnout 33.1%

Turnout 47.3%

• 62% growth in no. of votes cast at polling stations

− Significant increase in increase in Female voters - 79%

− 50% increase in Male voters

• 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

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Thank you

Thank YouTHANK YOU