Temjenkaba
DIPR feature
Election Commission of India, in order to fulfill their Constitutional obligations in right perspective, attaches high importance to electoral literacy through its flagship voter education programme- The main target of SVEEP is to mainstreaming of electoral literacy as a focus area under its Strategic Plan 2016-25. The Commission’s Report on ‘Mainstreaming of Electoral Literacy through Educational Institutions, Organizations and Communities in India (Conceptual Framework and Action Plan)’ has already been formulated and taken up for implementation.
The ‘Mainstreaming Report’ approaches introduction of electoral literacy through curricular and extracurricular interventions in collaboration with the Central and the State Governments besides Expert Education Institutions and the ‘in house expertise’ of the Commission. ‘Project ELC: Project Document on Electoral Literacy Clubs in India’ discusses and consolidates the concept and approach besides drawing up the Action Plan and Timelines on the extracurricular interventions for engaging the target populations of future and new voters through hands on experience under the ‘Electoral Literacy Clubs’ in educational institutions, and ‘Chunav Pathshalas’ under booth centric strategy for populations not covered under the formal education system. Besides, ‘Voter Awareness Forums’ is also a part of the strategy for engaging employees of organizations in government and non-government sectors. ‘Project ELC’ sets a mammoth task before us for educating and capacity building of the youth for enhanced as well as informed electoral participation among the new and future voters. In this pursuit we look forward to continued guidance and support from the Commission and close cooperation from all the Stakeholders.
It is vital to investment in future of democracy. Citizenship development in a democracy is about developing effective electoral engagement, participation, making informed choices and ethical ballot decisions. In the given context, one of the key goals of society is to have an active democratic citizenry originating in integrated civic and voter education and electoral participation .As per the Census 2011, there are 14.2 Crore young people in the age group 14-19 in India. Given the registration and voting age of 18, there is a sizeable voter age population at 18-19 years besides an equally large population of the future voters in the age group 14-17 who would become voters every year. As per the Census Data 2011, there are 9.68 Crore children in the age-group 14-17 years with 6.84 Crore in rural and 2.83 Crore in urban areas. Of these 6.97 Crore were enrolled in schools, with 4.76 Crore in rural and 2.21 Crore in urban. Also Census Data 2011, reveals that there are 30.52 Crore children in the age-group 6-17 years with 22.17 Crore in rural and 8.34 Crore in urban areas, of which 24.01Crore were enrolled in schools, with Studies courses under National Curriculum Framework, Text Books developed by NCERT, CISCE and National Institute of Open Learning has been carried out and discussed in the Working Group constituted by the Election Commission on the subject. In the light of all the examination, analysis and consultations, a detailed Report has been prepared on ‘Mainstreaming of Electoral Literacy through Education Institutions, Organizations and Communities in India’.
The findings of the Working Group bring out that the curriculum framework and the syllabus developed there under is rather inadequate in preparing young people ready for electoral participation. The Curricular Interventions is to introduce larger and appropriate component of electoral literacy in the curriculum framework; and (ii) Extracurricular (non scholastic) interventions through setting up of ‘Electoral Literacy Clubs’ in educational institutions (The expression Educational institutions would include schools secondary and senior secondary, colleges, universities, institutions of higher learning falling in Government and non-government sectors), Communities, and ‘Voter Awareness Forums’ in Govt. Depts. and organizations, Institutions both, Government and non-government. The Report on Mainstreaming of Electoral Literacy has been examined at length and submitted to the Commission for kind consideration and direction. In the light of the in principle approval of the Report by the Comm7.14Crore in rural and 6.86 Crore.
The ECI organized an International Conference on “Voter Education for Inclusive, Informed and Ethical Participation’ (Oct, 2016) followed by an International Seminar on ‘Strategies for Empowering Young and Future Voters’ (Jan., 2017) where a large number of Heads of EMB’s from major democracies and Heads of International Institutions of the world participated. The two global high level interactions and the launching of VoICE.NET and Voice International have generated a vast resource of knowledge rich in global experience of Electoral Literacy. These resources provide support and guidance to developing strategies and action plans for translating the Goals under Strategic Plan of the electoral participation as soon as they become eligible to vote. Extracurricular interventions are aimed at engaging the young people for hands on experience in electoral literacy so that they are at home with the conceptual framework and operational framework of the Electoral Literacy (EL) including facilitation for registration as a voter. In India, we have rich democratic traditions and robust democratic institutions. Electoral Literacy has been a matter of attention for strengthening participation among young and future voters (new voters and future voters).
In this context, while working on curriculum analysis, co curriculum and extracurricular interventions in voter education for empowering young and future voters, the concept of Electoral Literacy Clubs has emerged as an effective instrument of engaging young and future voters in educational institutions and communities not covered under the schools. As the mainstreaming of electoral literacy through curricular reframing and redeveloping may take some time, it has been considered prudent to strategically connect with the young and future voters through extracurricular interventions in ELCs. ELCs shall be the seat of learning through hands on experience and envisaged to serve as a vibrant hub of Electoral Literacy direct interaction in education and other institutions in the country for strengthening the culture of electoral participation among youngster.
(Source Media cell Election Department)
