THE HINDU - New Delhi - Tuesday, Jun 02, 2009
New initiative
Exercise Franchise for Good Governance (EFG), a non-political social forum concerned at the citizens apathy towards political participation, has embarked on a new initiative to involve the youth in the political process of the country.
The EFG ran a nation-wide campaign titled Respect Your Vote in the run-up to the 15th Lok Sabha elections urging people to vote as a matter of self-discipline.
Encouraged by the response, the same campaign is now being extended to the Delhi University campus during the admission season that got under way on Monday.
Freshers who are turning 18 are our target group for this commitment. We will be distributing a document titled Commitment to Self which states that as a responsible citizen, the nation has conferred on this youth the right to choose our parliamentarians as well as representatives to all elected offices, said EFG media coordinator Ratan Lal.
We will be asking prospective students to take this commitment. Their contact details collected in the process will be utilised to remind them about this solemn promise at every appropriate opportunity, be it the Delhi University Students’ Union elections, local body, or parliamentary elections, he added.
The EFG plans to take this campaign to the classrooms through the college bodies in the form of debates, essay-writing competition, and seminars.
Parul Sharma
http://www.hindu.com/2009/06/02/stories/2009060256520300.htm