SVEEP INITIATIVES Bihar Election 2015 District Darbhanga

1. SVEEP INITIATIVESBihar Election 2015District Darbhanga Kumar Ravi DEO Darbhanga

2. Darbhanga District

3. Basic Information of District • 10 ACs • Urban – 9.74 % • Rural-90.26 % • Sex Ratio- 911 • Literacy • Male –66.83 % • Female –45.24% • Total-56.56% • Population - 3937385 • Electors – 2558668 • % of 18-19 Yrs Electors – 2.8% • Roll Sex Ratio – 878 • Photo & EPIC – 100%

4. Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) is a programme of multi-interventions through different modes and media designed to educate citizens and voters about the electoral process in order to increase their awareness and participation in the electoral processes. In order to increase achieve the objectives of SVEEP a 360-degree approach was planned and executed in Darbhanga involving all SVEEP partners and Voters as per ECI SVEEP guidelines and instructions within the framework of state SVEEP plan.

5. Problem Identification • Urban Apathy • Rural issues – Distance/difficult area/migration • Youth under participation • Low VTR area • Security issues- Vulnerable Pockets • Postal ballot – Polling official apathy • EVM/VVPAT malfunctioning • Slow Voting at PS on D-Day

6. Special Features • Elector registration – Special day camps, Summary revision. • Preparation of healthy and complete electoral rolls – De-Duplication exercise & BLO training. • Gender gap- Continuous Monitoring of Electoral Roll Gender Ratio • EP Ratio, Age Cohort Analysis • EPIC distribution – BLO training, Monitoring • Polling Station location – Photo Voter Slip, Website, SMS based information. • Use of EVM/VVPAT – Training Sessions • Use of money/ muscle power or inducements by some candidates or their associates to influence vulnerable sections of electorate– Promoting Ethical Voting • Youth indifference – Games, Campus ambassadors, mass activities, Competition • To improve participation of all sections of the electorate • Focus on uneducated, residents of inaccessible and remote areas, socially and economically weaker/ deprived sections of society.

7. SVEEP DARBHANGA PARTNERS

9. District LOGO of Darbhanga for Bihar VidhanSabhaElection 2015 • The logo depicts the culture of Mithila Painting in the district • There is also a pictorial map of Darbhanga • The unique thing is the indelible ink on the finger is in the shape of map of Darbhanga. • It appealed to the local masses and was used uniformly in the district for SVEEP activities.

10. PLEDGE CAMPAIGN & SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN • Signature Campaignand Pledge Campaignwas organized in every nook and corner of Darbhanga. • There was special focus on differently-abled voters, Senior Citizen and Old Age , women, minority etc. • A large number of voters actively participated in these activities.

11. Slogans/ Posters/ Folk Songs /Awareness message developed in local Maithili language and Hindi songs for Voter Awareness • A number of songs were composed in local Maithili and Hindi language so that it appealed to local masses. • “Votemani” : a book by local ManikantJha which is a collection of Voter Awareness poems/songs in Maithili was launched. It became very popular. • Voter awareness songs CD composed by SVEEP nodal officer Ravindra Kumar Diwakar which was approved by ECI. • These songs were widely used in JagruktaRaths, by folk artists etc for creating awareness. • Being in local dialect, it helped in awareness among rural voters.

12. A number of Posters and slogans were developed in Maithili language • Cartoon characters were developed by SVEEP Darbhanga keeping in mind the local people and their culture • This was used in posters displaying voter awareness message. • It attracted rural and urban population equally and also had media attention.

13. JAGRUKTA RATHS and EVM FAMILARISATION CAMP • 10 Jagruktarathswere allocated to 10 Assembly Constituency. • These raths had posters displaying important information about election like date& timing of poll and also played DEO’s appeal recording and songs for voter awareness. • Through these rathsEVM familarisationactivity was also undertaken as each rathhad EVMs and VVPAT (in Urban area) and Master Trainers were also deputed to give hands on experience to voters • Many were seeing EVMs/VVPAT for the first time which enthused them.

14. Nukkad Natak, Kala Jatha, Radio and TV programme • At different places NukkadNatak and Folk song programmeswere organized by Kala Jathaand NukkadNatak team to educate and motivate voters to vote through drama , local folk songs in local Maithili language. • In partnership with Aakashvani (Radio) a special voter education session was aired for education and awareness. • Radio was also used for DEO message for rural voters especially women and weaker sections by detailing security measures. • DEO’s appeal and other programmeswere also broadcasted by local and national TV channels for Voter Awareness.

15. Rallies: Cycle Rally, Motor-Cycle Rally, Rally on foot, Candle march etc. • A number of rallies and march were organized by various partners like JEEVIKA, Anganwadi, ASHA for rural voters and by colleges, university, government departments for urban voters. • A large number of people participated in these rallies and media coverage was done.

16. Voter Awareness message was spread through various local festivals and other special days and eventsCultural Programme by State Icon St. SharadaSinha • Voter Awareness message was spread through various local festivals and other special days and events. • Festivalslike Teej ,Ganesh Chaturthi ,Vishwakarma puja ,Durga puja, Muhharram etc. were used for voter education on voluntary basis. • Other events and special days like Gandhi Jayanti, C.K. Naidu Cricket Tournament, MithilaOpen Chess Tounament, Hindi Diwas , Annaprasan day ,THR day ,International Day for Old Age etc. • State Icon Cultural programme “MATDAN KARU MATDAN KARU” was organized for Voter Awareness in Darbhanga. • Star of the evening was SmtShardaSinha. • Observers were also invited for watching this cultural event.

17. Stickers on Gas cylinders, Two Wheelers, Four Wheelers, Trains. Banners on walls of offices, ATMs, CollectoratePosters in public places and officesStamping on Government letters, posts , medical prescriptions. Stickers and Posters displayed in Banks and ATMs Posters displayed in Public places Stickers on Gas Cylinders Stickers on SFC tractors Stamping on Medical Prescriptions Stamping on Posts Collectorate decorated with flex

18. Interventions to Prevent Poll Boycott • Area from where the news of boycott came was documented • Team headed by BDO/SDO sent to these areas along with concerned department officials who tried to understand and sort out the issue within MCC and convince them to vote. • NOTA option also explained • Legal action explained in case someone stopped the willing voters deliberately. • This pro-active step motivated people and in many areas voters who had earlier planned to boycott pledged to vote or use NOTA. • This became a success story in VidhanSabha election 2015 as there was no poll boycott in the entire district.

19. Competitions • A number of district level , college ,school level competitionswere organized like • Painting and Poster making competition • Quiz • Debate • Slogan Writing • Essay • Fancy Cricket matches • Kabbadicompetitions • Rangoli Competitions

20. MEDIA : PRINT , ELECTRONIC and SOCIAL MEDIA WHATSAPP FACEBOOK

21. Model Polling Station : Mithila painting theme • Model Polling stations were designed on Mithila Painting theme in order to appeal people to come and vote by connecting them to local art culture and also promote this indigenous art form through this model polling station. • May I Help You Desk,Facility of drinking water ,toilet,waiting hall, First Aid ,Ambulance ,ramp and Children’s park was also provided. • Mithila painting and instructions on how to vote adorned the “ Model booth” • Certificate of Appreciation was first time Voters and PROUD TO BE A VOTER Badge was given to all voters • “.Loktantramitra were deployed to help voters.

22. The D-Day (Poll Day 5TH November 2015) PROUD TO BE A VOTER

26. Achievements • No case of Poll Boycott • Male VTR increased from 44% to 46.6% • Female VTR increased from 57.1% to 63%. • Postal Ballot VTR increased from 17 in LokSabha Election 2014 to 8233 in State Election 2015. • A remarkable 6.63 % increase in Total Voter Turnout in Darbhanga District from Last Assembly Election 2010 to present Assembly Election 2015. • Urban VTR increase by 5.1%

27. What Worked • Using local language(Mathili) and customs. • Sensitization of polling officials during training and postal balloting. • EVM/VVPAT malfunctioning was brought down to about 2.5%, replacement/repair within 30 min. • Awareness about security on poll day • Awareness about vehicle movement on poll day • Respect to individual voter decision • SVEEP teams were trained to work within MCC. • Sensitization of political parties/candidates • BMF – use of various govt funds

28. What did NOT Work • Appeal to migrant labourers in villages and trains • Voters apathy due to political alliances • Voters apathy due to candidate/Party • Large Number of voters in polling station

29. SVEEP Thank You