Khammam: Rangavalli invites to vote

Khammam: The voters of Khammam were surprised to see colourful and beautiful rangavalli adorning the entrance of their houses requesting them to participate in the voting.

The denizens, who came out from the house early morning noticed the rangavalli welcoming the family members on one side and appealing to participate in the voting.

Low voting turn-out in Urban Local Bodies (ULB), forced the State Election Commission (SEC) to take up various voter awareness programmes with the help of non-governmental orga-nisations. The target of the SEC is to cross the voter turn-out above 75 per cent against 63 per cent in 2006 elections. The women of Rotary Club Sthambadri extended assistance to the SEC in creating awareness. Kurivella Madhavi, Jayasri, Aparna and Jaya drew rangavalli in front of houses.  Madhavi said, “We noticed low polling turn-out percentage in ULBs and took up a programme. We selected rangavalli to draw the attention of the voters.”

They wrote slogans alongwith rangavallis such as ‘casting vote is our right’, ‘select a  good leader by casting vote’ and  ‘do not waste your vote.’ About 37 voters out of 100 are not turning to polling booths and availing the holiday for enjoyment. This tendency is seen more in the literate voters than the illiterate ones.

“We have to change this perception of the  urban voters and see that  they go to polling stations and exercise their franchise to elect an honest candidate,” said G.V. Narasimha Rao, a lecturer. Apart from it, the SEC officials set up flexis at various corners with slogans calling the voters to cast their votes. The slogans include ‘not casting vote is a crime,’ ‘using voting right is for our presence, etc.A vehicle fitted with speakers is doing the rounds, asking people to cast their vote.