Transgender and beggars vote

Team Udayavani, May 14, 2018, 11:08 AM IST

Mangaluru: This time’s district voting percentage has increased in comparison to last times with respect to the legislative assembly elections and national elections, thus proving that the district sweep committee was successful in spreading awareness on casting ones vote. The casting of vote by beggars and persons belonging to the transgender community is a specialty in itself.

The district sweep committee has been spreading awareness on voting through various programmes since two months.

“Come to the polling booth”

All the programmes conducted by the district sweep committee was conducted under the title of “Come to the polling booth”. The people were sensitized about voting through various jingles and videos making use of celebrities. The sweep committee programmes were planned and executed by a 6 member team including the CEO of ZP. Also, all the executive officers of T.P. were appointed as nodal officers.

Increase in percentage

This time the percentage of voting in the district has increased by 3.15% from 2013’s 74.48%to 77.63%. During the 2014 Lok Sabha election, 76.67% voting had taken place and this time there in an increase in 0.96%. Mangaluru South constituency’s voting of 64% was the lowest last time and has increased to 67.47% this time.

31 lakh rupees grant

The sweep committee was given a grant of 31 lakh rupees to conduct programmes to spread awareness on voting amongst the people. Of this, 29 lakh rupees were granted in the beginning. Later, 2 lakh rupees were granted by giving 10,000 rupees per pink polling booth. The grant was utilized by putting a limit to the expense on awareness programmes, informed an officer.

Inclusion into voting

Transgenders and beggars cast their vote in the district for the first time making it a special occasion. Altogether, 42 persons belonging to the transgender community voted in Mangaluru South constituency. 22 inmates of the beggars rehabilitation centre at Pacchanady cast their votes. The sweep committee took special care for their vote, informed district sweep chief.