Sonari West Bhawan members take pledge to raise voting %

Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, May 13: Low voter turnout in the last few phases of Lok Sabha election is worrying all. Keeping this in mind a section of women, which comprises many senior citizens in Sonari area of Jamshedpur have decided to lift the voting awareness bar.

In this noble effort, around 100 women from the polling booth number 50 (Sonari West Samudayik Bhawan) kicked off a campaign on Saturday evening by taking voters’ awareness pledge. It was attended by male members too. Goutam Bose, president of the Bhawan welcomed all. Bose told all to come out of their houses and vote on May 25. Birendra Pratap Singh, secretary of Bhawan to encouraged all to vote.

A woman member, who is also a part of this awareness brigade, said,”Less than a fortnight is left before Jamshedpur goes to polls on May 25. In this span of time the women taking time off from their daily schedule will visit all the houses in the locality and try to convince 1200 voters who are enrolled in booth number 50 to come out and exercise their electoral franchise on the D-day. Hand-made awareness banners will be used in this connection. The polling booth, through crowdfunding, will be decorated too giving it a festival look.”

She said,”On Saturday the women, all self-motivated, came out of their houses and took pledge to make people aware why casting votes is so important in democracy like celebrating other festivals. On voting day the homemakers have decided that until each bonafide voter in the family casts their votes, no food will be served on the dining table. ‘Phele mat daan, phir jal paan’ (first cast vote, then have food) will be on the agenda on May 25.” Motivation will be done through social media platforms too, she said.

She said,”The women of the locality had in the past taken up several social issues like feeding the inmates of the old age home in the city and helping poor people through crowdfunding.”

Soni Shukla, a teacher, said,”This time we aim to ensure that our booth registers record more than 90% voting. Such targets should be set by other voters across Jamshedpur too to strengthen the roots of democracy in our country. Younger generation often shy away from casting votes and need more awareness.”

The women’s brigade celebrated their first anniversary on Monday. A cake was cut on the occasion. Women members promised to carry forward their social service activities.