Prayagraj: Volunteers take up ‘green voting’ to increase voter turnout

Awasthi.

Prayagraj: In a unique concept of ‘green voting’, a group of volunteers associated with Paryavaran Sena – an organization working for environment protection and planting trees across several states of country – have come forward to encourage youngsters, especially first- time voters to vote first and then, plant a tree for environment conservation.

Ahead of polling, the volunteers are conducting door to door campaign in villages, blocks and cities in eastern UP districts to encourage first time voters to cast their franchise and plant saplings for generation next.

Ajay Krantikari, head of Paryavaran sena said, “Volunteers are connecting with first- time voters online and offline with an objective to increase voters turnout. Apart from this, district authorities are holding a series of campaigns where volunteers are briefing youngsters about the significance of each vote.”

Apart from briefing them the power of voting, volunteers are also apprising first-time voters about the importance of trees in human lives and requesting them to plant a sapling in and around their houses after casting their vote.

Interestingly, groups of youngsters from colleges have joined hands with the volunteers to spread the message of green voting in Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Kaushambi, Fatehpur and other districts of the region.

Krantikari meanwhile said “We have roped in active volunteers to connect with students of colleges in different districts of the state to promote the concept of green voting.” Officials are making sincere efforts to make targeted interventions to instil a sense of self-motivation among voters to participate in the upcoming general election.

The officials have identified challenges to increase turnout in urban areas and encouraging the officers to prepare a booth-wise action plan for enhanced voter participation. They are also planning to rope in stakeholders like resident welfare associations (RWAs), local icons and youth influencers to persuade eligible voters to vote.