"Mera Vote Mera Desh" voter awareness campaign for youths was organized by Odisha Election Watch in collaboration with ADR at Biju Pattnaik Degree College, Kundra, in Koraput district on 06th March 2024. The event saw 154 participants.
These programme was presided over by college principal and was efficiently facilitated by Mr. Md. Amzad Khan of SOVA, Koraput, with the full support of college authority.
The objectives of the campaign were to diminish the influence of crime and money in elections and to enhance youth participation in the democratic process of voting. Specifically targeting adults aged 18 and above, particularly within educational institutions, the aim was to empower youth with knowledge about the electoral process, voting rights, and necessary information such as voter registration, enrollment procedures, electoral rolls, polling procedures, and schedules.
The following roles of youths in the electoral process were emphasized:
•Prompt registration upon reaching the eligible age
•Making informed decisions while casting votes
•Ensuring reliability of sources and critical thinking while consuming political information
•Active participation in elections while adhering to democratic processes
•Promoting fair elections and ensuring equal opportunity for participation
•Cultivating a sense of duty and responsibility regarding voting
An action plan was devised wherein participants pledged to create awareness in their respective villages and streets and motivate at least 10 families to participate in the clean democratic process.