Mumbai: City schools and colleges will soon have ‘Electoral Literacy Clubs’ (ELC), whose job it would be to encourage students to vote and make them aware of their responsibility as citizens of this country. The Election Commission of India (ECI) suggested setting up ELCs in a move to enlighten the upcoming generation about the importance of participating in country’s electoral process.
According to ECI’s joint chief electoral officer Anil Valvi, this rule is applicable to all the educational and vocational institutions across the state. Explaining further, Mr Valvi said, “There will be two clubs at each school and college. One is the electoral club and another one is the awareness club. The first one is for all the students from class nine to 12 who will get hands on experience on how the voter list is charted, how voting is done along with the EVM machines.” He further said that the awareness club is for the senior students who will educate the young ones.
The education officers in the city have been instructed to start the work of ELCs in all educational places, as they want to finalise it before January 25 as in India, this day is celebrated as National Voters’ Day.
“Schools and colleges should establish proper ELCs by January 25, after which we will choose the properly made team from colleges and schools for further enrolment,” Mr Valvi said.
After training and workshops these students will be allowed to enrol in the voter list for the upcoming elections,” he added.
