Everybody should vote for his own good – Bharat Ganeshpure

Not for the sake of selfie, but one needs to vote intelligently – Hemangi Kavi

Mumbai: “Every person without being told by anyone should take the lead in casting his vote. It is rightful day for us to elect our own representative and it is an important thing not just for our state but for the country at large”, remarked noted “Chala Hava Yeoo Dya” fame Marathi actor Bharat Ganeshpure. He said this while addressing a voter awareness program organised by Mumbai Suburban District Collector at BMCs Prabhodhankar Thackeray theatre in Borivali on Saturday.

As part of the Election Commission of India’s (ECI) Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation Program (SVEEP) voter awareness programs are being organised. The program was graced by Mumbai Suburban District Collector, Milind Borikar, Deputy District Collector, Sonali Mulye, BMC Joint Commissioner, Bharat Marathe, actress Hemangi Kavi and Nisha Parulekar. They urged the audience to go out and vote.

Amongst those who attended included SVEEP, Special Executive Officer (SEO) Subhash Dalvi and solid waste management expert Ashwini Borude and Sunil Dashputre represented Divyang voters. Considering the large number of voter population in the 26 assembly seats in Mumbai Suburban District, Artists were roped into the urge the people to cast their ballot. On this occasion the Mumbai Suburban District Collector administered a pledge to the gathered audience that they would go out and cast their vote on October 21.

Mumbai Suburban District Collector, Milind Borikar stated “considering the fact that Mumbai has a huge population, hence it is needed that there should be more voting here. Considering the national data, the average voting in India is 70 percent, hence this time we are going to try and catch up with the national average. It is imperative that voters turn out in large numbers to cast their votes considering the fact that all officers, employees, police force and other agencies are geared up for the polling day”. A excellent musical program on voter awareness was presented by music teachers of BMC schools. While girl students of the National Service Scheme (NSS) in colleges urged the youth not to treat voting day as a holiday and exercise their right to vote.

Actress Hemangi Kavi remarked “we must go to cast our vote just as we go out for any festival. The youth and everybody else should realize as to why they are voting and then go out and vote. Not for the sake of selfie, but one needs to vote intelligently. If women turn out to vote then other members of their families will turn out to vote and hence women need to turn out in large numbers on October 21”. She urged the women attending the program to go out and vote in large numbers on October 21.

Director of Swatch Mumbai Prabhodhan Abhiyan, representatives of Arogya Sevika, Anganwadi Sevika, Balwadi Shikshak, representatives of cooperative housing socities and college students attended in large numbers. Nisha Parulekar said “in order to make democracy succeed, everyone needs to chip in. It is the duty of each one of us to raise the voting percentage. Instead of placing a price tag on ones vote, everyone needs to vote responsibly”. Dhiraj Sharma, a Divyang, regaled the audience by mimicking Amin Sayani, Nilu Phule, Rajesh Khanna, Nana Patekar, Amol Palekar and other actors driving home the point on the audience to go out and vote.