CII to launch voter awareness campaign

The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has proposed a string of initiatives to the Election Commission to improve the voter awareness in the coming Lok Sabha elections.

To begin with, CII has proposed to set up touchscreen terminals in 30 urban centres all over the country to help people know about their status on the electoral rolls.

People can access information about registration and polling booths. These kiosks will also help voters know more about the electronic voting machines.

The confederation will also set up "helplines" to respond to people's queries related to polls and assist them in getting themselves registered.

The CII will organise programmes to mobilise young voters. It will also take up the task of encouraging people to exercise their electoral rights.

It will also encourage people above 18 years to get themselves registered in the votor list. These programmes will be routed through print and electronic media and is a part of the CII's corporate social responsibility programme. In the last elections also, the CII had carried out a similar campaign.

The CII, according to sources, is expected to advice its members to donate funds to political parties only through cheques. The industry association had given out a similar advisory during the last general elections.

Chief Election Commissioner TS Krishnamurthy earlier announced that the four-phased polling would start on April 20 and end on May 10. The counting of votes will take place on May 13, except in Andhra Pradesh.

Meanwhile, political parties have started confabulating with leading industry associations in order to draw up their election manifestos.

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) has prepared a detailed five-year economic agenda to various political parties to be included as a part of the election manifestos.

The chamber has also met the BJP leaders and have briefed them and is awaiting an appointment from the 10 Janpath. "We are meeting all the leading political parties to include the economic agenda in their poll manifestos. We have already met BJP president Venkaiah Naidu and Arun Jaitley," said Y K Modi, president, Ficci.

Besides, the chamber has also met senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee. "We have also sought an appointment with Sonia Gandhi also," he said.