With an aim to achieve 100% voting in Leh, Ladakh, the Fellows from the ‘Naropa Fellowship’ are actively steering the Election Commission of India’s Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program in one of India’s remotest region.
The mandate of the SVEEP team is to generate voter awarenessand ensure increased voter turnout along with ethical voting.
Apart from carrying out extensive voter engagement andtraining in the deepest pockets of the Khaltsi and Nyoma blocks, the Fellowsare using different mediums to spread the message including creating a mural inthe Leh market, to encourage locals to cast their votes, a statement said.
In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Ladakh registered 70%voting, which is high as compared to the rest of the country.
“The Fellows believe that a near-100% voting is possible inIndia’s northern-most state with adequate effort and resources,” the statementsaid.
Speaking about the SVEEP campaign, Abhishek, one of theNaropa Fellows who is participating in the awareness drive said, “We seeelections in Ladakh as nothing short of a miracle of democracy. The ElectionCommission of India goes out of its way to ensure no voter is left behind andLadakh is great place to see this commitment in action.”
Drukpa Thuksey Rinpoche, Co-founder of the NaropaFellowshipsaid, “This positive step, taken up by the NaropaFellows was much needed inLadakh, especially in the small village areas where people are still not awareabout the importance of voting or what can be achieved with their single vote.We feel proud seeing our Fellows getting involved in this campaign of nationalimportance and making Ladakh a more aware constituency.”