Photo Courtesy - The Bridge Chronicle 

Pune: For several decades, public awareness has been brought about in the leprosy colonies located in Anandvan or place in Dapodi through 206, Pimpri Assembly Office under Swipp Program 

 “We, the citizens of India, with full devotion to democracy, pledge to preserve the democratic traditions of our country and to maintain the sanctity of elections in a free, fair and peaceful environment and to conduct every election fearlessly and not to be influenced by considerations of religion, race, caste, society or language. Do not succumb to any temptation and vote." By taking such an oath, 100 percent voting was ensured by the voters present.

 Pimpri Assembly Constituency Office's Nodal Officer Sharad Patil, Divyang Class Coordinator Vijay Bhojne, Assistant Nodal Officer Balaji Gite, Sweep Nodal Officer Prafulla Puranik, Swabhimani Mahila Mandalchaya Surekha Dodamani and citizens of Anandvan Vasahati were present at the event.

As per the instructions of the District Magistrate and District Election Officer Dr. Suhas Diwas and under the Swipp program and in the guidance of Pimpri Assembly Election Decision Officer Archana Yadav, various initiatives are being implemented under the SVEEP initiative to increase the voting percentage in the coming elections. As a part of this, a program on voter awareness was organized at Dapodi today. The voters there said that there is such a type of pre-poll program.

 In order to ensure that even a single voter remains deprived of voting, voting awareness is being created at various places in the workplace. Widespread public awareness will be created in Mothia societies, shopping malls, gardens, various programs besides senior citizen associations, disabled organizations or government and private transport organizations and other places, said Sweep Nodal Officer Prafulla Puranik.

"I have been living in a leprosy colony for many years and I participate in every election campaign enthusiastically. Every election we all vote and the voting percentage is 100 percent. There are more than 150 houses and more than 350 voters in Anandvan. Surekha Dodmani, a voter in Anandvan Vasahti, expressed her gratitude to the Election Department for providing wheelchair assistance and cooperation at the polling booth every election day."

 Special facilities are being provided at polling stations for disabled voters through the Election Department. Polling booths for physically handicapped people will be set up on the ground floor and so that their mobility is not hindered, and to make it convenient for them to go there, there is ramp facility, help desk available at the polling booths, as well as a disabled person who is capable of doing so. Braille ballot paper for blind voters and interpreter helpline service for deaf and hard of hearing are available, said Balaji Gite, assistant nodal officer for the disabled class.