In yet another unique initiative to encourage maximum electors to exercise their franchise during forthcoming Punjab Assembly Elections 2022, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Punjab Dr S Karuna Raju directed Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Election Officers (DEOs) to appoint ‘Chon Mittars’ (Electoral Friend) on voluntary basis to facilitate electors in their respective districts.The CEO Punjab, in his letter written to all the DEOs, stated that Chon Mittar, who will work as an assistant to Booth Level Officer (BLO), will look after at least 50 households. Chon Mittar will ensure that every eligible member of designated houses are registered as voters besides making sure they are going to exercise their franchise, he added.
Apart from it, Chon Mittars will promote ethical voting and will assist and facilitate the voters especially Elderly and Persons with Disability (PwD) voters,” said Dr Raju. He said that Chon Mittars will be given special Caps and ID Cards.He said that based on their performance, the first three best Chon Mittars will be honoured at the district level and cash rewards of Rs 10,000, Rs 7,500 and Rs 5,000 will be conferred respectively.Meanwhile, many activities under the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme are being conducted at district levels so that maximum electors could be sensitised about the right to vote. The activities includes DC da Suneha via Gurdwaras, Tractor Rallies in villages and polling station areas, Student Rallies, Human Chains, Nukkad Nataks or Street Skits by NSS/NCC/NGOs/other volunteers, EVM and VVPAT awareness activities, roping in prominent people and Booth Chon Sakharta (Booth Electoral Literacy) etc are being conducted to sensitise the electors.