Indian Express - Express News Service - May 31, 2009
Now, freshers can swear to vote as they enter university
New Delhi For long considered political by their counterparts in Kolkata and Mumbai colleges, students stepping into Delhi University colleges this time can right away take the pledge to vote once they turn 18.
A movement called Exercise Governance for Good Franchise (EFG), which comprises Delhi University students and teachers, has decided to catch them young. Freshers will be asked to sign a pledge to vote in elections. EFG started its drive last year, by encouraging the youth to cast their vote during last November Assembly elections.
And charity, EFG members feel, begins at home. So the idea is to first make students aware of the Delhi University Student Union (DUSU) elections in August, and encourage them to register for their voters identity cards.
We are also planning to request NCERT to put the pledge in its text books, so that students are aware of the importance of voting from an early age, Ratan Lal, university teacher and media coordinator of the group, says. We will set up stalls at four admission centres and will register them for the pledge from Monday.
The pledge reads: As I turn 18, the nation looks up to me as a responsible citizen. It trusts that my views are important in shaping the decisions taken in the nation. It has, therefore, conferred on me the right to choose parliamentarians as well as representatives to all elected offices. Being young, my stakes are high, if I fail to help shape the nation of my choice. I therefore promise not to let down this trust. My vote matters! I commit to exercise my franchise at every opportunity.
EFG member Uttam Prakash says during elections, both of DUSU and otherwise, they would conduct special seminars for students, especially the freshers. Besides signing the pledge, the students will also be required fill in their names, addresses, e-mail IDs and phone numbers through which the EFG will keep in touch with them.