Ex-bankers, retired government officials and journalists have been roped in by the EC to hold ‘charcha’ or dialogue sessions with voters as part of its drive to crack down on use of black money in ‘expenditure-sensitive’ pockets.
For the first time, the EC has directed the Chief Electoral Officers of all States and Union Territories to create village-level awareness groups (VAGs) and ward-level awareness groups (WAGs) in all municipal areas, especially in those constituencies which are sensitive from the point of view of illegal money power coming into play in the run-up to elections.
Such groups, comprising retired government officials, bank and corporate officials, eminent journalists and educationists and civil society representatives of the area, will be formed at all such marked polling booths and they will conduct group discussions, chats and talks with the local voters to urge them to shun electoral malpractices and also to report their occurrence.
The group, the EC directive said, will also organise ‘nukkad’ meetings and dialogue sessions against the practice of accepting and doling out cash bribe, liquor or any other inducements during polls.
“These groups will hold talk sessions with local voters and even take out a door-to-door campaign,” a senior official involved in the exercise said.
The expenditure sensitive seats are being currently determined by the EC based on “past experiences, the level of development and literacy profile and sensitivity of the area for distribution of cash, liquor or items of bribe.”
The 5- to 10-member team, according to EC directives, will spread the message of ethical voting and urge the voters to abstain from any inducement such as cash, gift, liquor or community feast organised for campaign purpose.