Kozhikode: When new voters of Wayanad district cast their maiden vote this summer, they will get a gift from the district administration: two saplings. They can plant one in the nearest public spot of the polling booth and another at home.
‘Vote for Democracy, Vote for Environment’, is the slogan for the campaign of the district administration which aims at improving voting as wells saving the environment in one go.
Named ‘Orma Maram’, the project is being implemented as part of the Systematic Voter Education Programme and the Students Participation Programme. The first phase of the project would focus on the first-time voters aged between 18 and 20, senior citizen above 75 years, polling officials and security personnel.
Wayanad district collector Kesavendra Kumar told Deccan Chronicle that the project targets at propagating the spirit of ethical voting and improving polling percentage by inspiring the first-time voters as it would be a new experience for them. In the first phase the district administration plans to plant 20,000 seedlings. “I hope they would also nurture the plants nearby home as it is in remembrance of their first voting,” Mr Kumar said.
“The nearest government agency will be entrusted with taking care of the sapling on planted on public spaces.” The plants for the project are ready with the department of social forestry.
Mr Kumar hopes that the common public would be also happy to join in the project as the district is through its hottest summer this year, feeling the heat.
