Athlete Kavita Raut to inspire first-time voters

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) is targeting first-time voters to increase the count through extensive awareness campaigns from September 15 and has roped in athlete Kavita Raut.
"Kavita Raut will be the face of the awareness campaign among young voters. She will be participating in it from now till the election and has offered to do it for free. We will be having a voter facilitation centre in every area from September 15.We will be creating awareness among students in colleges, through SMS, radio, print media and in cinema theatres," said municipal commissioner Abhishek Krishna during a media briefing.
All youths completing 18 years of age on January 1, 2017 will be eligible to vote in the civic polls scheduled in February next year. The voters' list for Vidhan Sabha election is used for Nashik civic body election as independent registration is not done.
The chief election commission is scrutinising the voters' list from September 15 to October 14. Taking advantage of this, the NMC will be conducting extensive awareness campaigns to increase voters in civic election. Banners of Kavita Raut will be used even during the election.
Awareness is being done at Ganesh mandals, elected representatives and politicians will participate in campaigns, vehicles and city buses will have pictures, self-help groups will be involved, awareness will be done in slums, various organisations and NGOs will be roped in, advertisements in local channels, social media, NMC theatres, stickers on gas cylinders, help centres, centres for accepting forms will be involved. Banners and audio have been given to 150 Ganesh mandals.
"Our main voters are the youth. We want to attract them as their participation is very important. They are the future. We are discussing with college principals for finalising the dates and time for the awareness campaign. The awareness campaign will begin on September 15 at Aarambh Mahavidyalay," said Krishna.
The NMC will also be appealing to the youth during the youth festival at Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University on September 20.