1. SVEEP INITIATIVES Bihar Election 2015 District Darbhanga
Kumar Ravi
DEO Darbhanga

2. Darbhanga District

3. Basic Information of District
10 ACs
Urban – 9.74 %
Rural %
Sex Ratio- 911
Literacy
Male –66.83 %
Female –45.24%
Total-56.56%
Population
Electors –
% of Yrs Electors – 2.8%
Roll Sex Ratio – 878
Photo & EPIC – 100%

4. Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) is a programme of multi-interventions through different modes and media designed to educate citizens and voters about the electoral process in order to increase their awareness and participation in the electoral processes.
In order to increase achieve the objectives of SVEEP a 360-degree approach was planned and executed in Darbhanga involving all SVEEP partners and Voters as per ECI SVEEP guidelines and instructions within the framework of state SVEEP plan.

5. Problem Identification
Urban Apathy
Rural issues – Distance/difficult area/migration
Youth under participation
Low VTR area
Security issues- Vulnerable Pockets
Postal ballot – Polling official apathy
EVM/VVPAT malfunctioning
Slow Voting at PS on D-Day

6. Special Features
Elector registration – Special day camps, Summary revision.
Preparation of healthy and complete electoral rolls – De-Duplication exercise & BLO training.
Gender gap- Continuous Monitoring of Electoral Roll Gender Ratio
EP Ratio, Age Cohort Analysis
EPIC distribution – BLO training, Monitoring
Polling Station location – Photo Voter Slip, Website, SMS based information.
Use of EVM/VVPAT – Training Sessions
Use of money/ muscle power or inducements by some candidates or their associates to influence vulnerable sections of electorate – Promoting Ethical Voting
Youth indifference – Games, Campus ambassadors, mass activities, Competition
To improve participation of all sections of the electorate
Focus on uneducated, residents of inaccessible and remote areas, socially and economically weaker/ deprived sections of society.

7. NGO/SOCIETY/CLUB/UNION/SAMITI BANKS/POST OFFICE /RAILWAY
SVEEP DARBHANGA PARTNERS
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT
GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS
GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE COLLEGES
CAMPUS AMBASSADORS
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
ASHA/ANM
PHC/CHC/REFERRAL UNIT
HOSPITALS
SOCIAL WELFARE
ICDS/ANGANWADI
SOCIAL SECURITY (PENSIONERS ,DISABLED,OLD AGE, WOMEN) JEEVIKA
ASSOCIATION
INDIAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION(IMA)
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
SPORTS ASSOCIATION
ADVOCATES
NGO/SOCIETY/CLUB/UNION/SAMITI
NEHRU YUVA KENDRA , DARBHANGA
ROTARY CLUB, DARBHANGA
RED CROSS,DARBHANGA
NCC , DARBHANGA
NSS,DARBHANGA
AWARENESS PARTNERS
BANKS/POST OFFICE /RAILWAY
COMMUNICATION CHANNELS
PRINT MEDIA
ELECTRONIC MEDIA
SOCIAL MEDIA
BSNLLOCAL CABLE NETWORK
AKAASHWANI RADIO

8. JAGRUKTA RATH,EVM FAMILARISATION CAMP Nukkad Natak, Kala Jatha
SVEEP ACTIVITIES
DARBHANGA
PLEDGE CAMPAIGN
&
SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN
JAGRUKTA RATH,EVM FAMILARISATION CAMP
LOGO of Darbhanga,
STAMPING
Nukkad Natak, Kala Jatha
Use of cartoon character for vote appeal , ethical voting and imparting other Voter Awareness messages
Slogans/ Posters/ Folk Songs /Awareness message in local Maithili language
RALLY,MARCH,
RACE,SPORTS ACTIVITIES AND OTHER COMPETITIONS
AWARENESS PROGRAMMES THROUGH ELECTRONIC,PRINT SOCIAL MEDIA AND RADIO

9. District LOGO of Darbhanga for Bihar Vidhan Sabha Election 2015
The logo depicts the culture of Mithila Painting in the district
There is also a pictorial map of Darbhanga
The unique thing is the indelible ink on the finger is in the shape of map of Darbhanga.
It appealed to the local masses and was used uniformly in the district for SVEEP activities.

10. PLEDGE CAMPAIGN & SIGNATURE CAMPAIGN
Signature Campaign and Pledge Campaign was organized in every nook and corner of Darbhanga.
There was special focus on differently-abled voters, Senior Citizen and Old Age , women, minority etc.
A large number of voters actively participated in these activities.

11. Slogans/ Posters/ Folk Songs /Awareness message developed in local Maithili language and Hindi songs for Voter Awareness
A number of songs were composed in local Maithili and Hindi language so that it appealed to local masses.
“Votemani” : a book by local Manikant Jha which is a collection of Voter Awareness poems/songs in Maithili was launched. It became very popular.
Voter awareness songs CD composed by SVEEP nodal officer Ravindra Kumar Diwakar which was approved by ECI.
These songs were widely used in Jagrukta Raths, by folk artists etc for creating awareness.
Being in local dialect, it helped in awareness among rural voters.

12. A number of Posters and slogans were developed in Maithili language
Cartoon characters were developed by SVEEP Darbhanga keeping in mind the local people and their culture
This was used in posters displaying voter awareness message.
It attracted rural and urban population equally and also had media attention.

13. JAGRUKTA RATHS and EVM FAMILARISATION CAMP
10 Jagrukta raths were allocated to 10 Assembly Constituency.
These raths had posters displaying important information about election like date& timing of poll and also played DEO’s appeal recording and songs for voter awareness.
Through these raths EVM familarisation activity was also undertaken as each rath had EVMs and VVPAT (in Urban area) and Master Trainers were also deputed to give hands on experience to voters
Many were seeing EVMs/VVPAT for the first time which enthused them.

14. Nukkad Natak, Kala Jatha, Radio and TV programme
At different places Nukkad Natak and Folk song programmes were organized by Kala Jatha and Nukkad Natak team to educate and motivate voters to vote through drama , local folk songs in local Maithili language.
In partnership with Aakashvani (Radio) a special voter education session was aired for education and awareness.
Radio was also used for DEO message for rural voters especially women and weaker sections by detailing security measures.
DEO’s appeal and other programmes were also broadcasted by local and national TV channels for Voter Awareness.

15. Rallies: Cycle Rally, Motor-Cycle Rally, Rally on foot, Candle march etc.
A number of rallies and march were organized by various partners like JEEVIKA, Anganwadi, ASHA for rural voters and by colleges, university, government departments for urban voters.
A large number of people participated in these rallies and media coverage was done.

16. Voter Awareness message was spread through various local festivals and other special days and events Cultural Programme by State Icon St. Sharada Sinha
Voter Awareness message was spread through various local festivals and other special days and events.
Festivals like Teej ,Ganesh Chaturthi ,Vishwakarma puja ,Durga puja, Muhharram etc. were used for voter education on voluntary basis.
Other events and special days like Gandhi Jayanti, C.K. Naidu Cricket Tournament, Mithila Open Chess Tounament, Hindi Diwas , Annaprasan day ,THR day ,International Day for Old Age etc.
State Icon Cultural programme “MATDAN KARU MATDAN KARU” was organized for Voter Awareness in Darbhanga.
Star of the evening was Smt Sharda Sinha.
Observers were also invited for watching this cultural event.

17. Stickers on Gas cylinders, Two Wheelers, Four Wheelers, Trains
Stickers on Gas cylinders, Two Wheelers, Four Wheelers, Trains. Banners on walls of offices, ATMs, Collectorate Posters in public places and offices Stamping on Government letters, posts , medical prescriptions.
Stickers and Posters displayed in Banks and ATMs
Posters displayed in
Public places
Stickers on Gas Cylinders
Stickers on SFC tractors
Stamping on Medical Prescriptions
Stamping on Posts
Collectorate decorated with flex

18. Interventions to Prevent Poll Boycott
Area from where the news of boycott came was documented
Team headed by BDO/SDO sent to these areas along with concerned department officials who tried to understand and sort out the issue within MCC and convince them to vote.
NOTA option also explained
Legal action explained in case someone stopped the willing voters deliberately.
This pro-active step motivated people and in many areas voters who had earlier planned to boycott pledged to vote or use NOTA.
This became a success story in Vidhan Sabha election 2015 as there was no poll boycott in the entire district.

19. Competitions
A number of district level , college ,school level competitions were organized like
Painting and Poster making competition
Quiz
Debate
Slogan Writing
Essay
Fancy Cricket matches
Kabbadi competitions
Rangoli Competitions

20. MEDIA : PRINT , ELECTRONIC and SOCIAL MEDIA
WHATSAPP
FACEBOOK

21. Model Polling Station : Mithila painting theme
Model Polling stations were designed on Mithila Painting theme in order to appeal people to come and vote by connecting them to local art culture and also promote this indigenous art form through this model polling station.
May I Help You Desk,Facility of drinking water ,toilet,waiting hall, First Aid ,Ambulance ,ramp and Children’s park was also provided.
Mithila painting and instructions on how to vote adorned the “ Model booth”
Certificate of Appreciation was first time Voters and PROUD TO BE A VOTER Badge was given to all voters
“.Loktantra mitra were deployed to help voters.

22. The D-Day (Poll Day 5TH November 2015)
PROUD TO BE A VOTER

23. Outcome District Turnout 47.65 54.28 1 78- Kusheshwar Asthan(SC) 45.50
SI.No.
AC Number and Name
Voter Turn Out in Assembly Election 2010 (%)
Voter Turn Out in Assembly Election 2015 (%) 1
78- Kusheshwar Asthan(SC)
45.50
50.94 2
79-Goura Bouram
46.20
51.89 3
80-Benipur
47.22
55.23 4
81-Alinagar
47.33
55.37 5
82-Darbhanga Rural
45.86
51.90 6
83-Darbhanga
52.20
57.28 7
84-Hayaghat
49.74
55.90 8
85-Bahadurpur
51.22
57.94 9
86-Keoti
46.74
54.39 10
87-Jaley
44.65
51.93
District Turnout
47.65
54.28

24. Male & Female Voter Turnout Percentage
S.No.
AC Name and Number
Male Voter turnout Percentage in Assembly Election 2010
Male Voter turnout Percentage in Assembly Election 2015
Female Voter turnout Percentage in Assembly Election 2010
Female Voter turnout Percentage in Assembly Election 2015 1
78- Kusheshwar Sthan(SC)
37.43
40.86
54.75
62.07 2
79-Gaoura Baouram
38.65
41.61
54.81
63.64 3
80-Benipur
45.25
47.11
54.92
64.22 4
81-Alinagar
42.72
46.16
59.48
65.55 5
82-Darbhanga Rural
46.39
45.20
58.16
59.60 6
83-Darbhanga
48.10
55.16
56.10
59.75 7
84-Hayaghat
44.14
47.80
56.29
65.04 8
85-Bahadurpur
47.50
52.31
55.62
64.47 9
86-Keoti
46.28
45.97
63.24
64.27 10
87-Jaley
43.50
43.93
57.68
61.24
District Tornout
44.00
46.61
57.10
62.99

25. AC WISE TURNOUT COMPARISION

27. District Male & Female Voter Turnout Percentage
Male Voter turnout Percentage in Assembly Election 2010
Male Voter turnout Percentage in Assembly Election 2015
Female Voter turnout Percentage in Assembly Election 2010
Female Voter turnout Percentage in Assembly Election 2015
District Tournout
44.00
46.61
57.10
62.99

28. Male & Female Voter Turnout Percentage

29. Achievements No case of Poll Boycott
Male VTR increased from 44% to 46.6%
Female VTR increased from 57.1% to 63%.
Postal Ballot VTR increased from 17 in Lok Sabha Election 2014 to 8233 in State Election 2015.
A remarkable 6.63 % increase in Total Voter Turnout in Darbhanga District from Last Assembly Election 2010 to present Assembly Election 2015.
Urban VTR increase by 5.1%

30. What Worked Using local language(Mathili) and customs.
Sensitization of polling officials during training and postal balloting.
EVM/VVPAT malfunctioning was brought down to about 2.5%, replacement/repair within 30 min.
Awareness about security on poll day
Awareness about vehicle movement on poll day
Respect to individual voter decision
SVEEP teams were trained to work within MCC.
Sensitization of political parties/candidates
BMF – use of various govt funds

31. What did NOT Work Appeal to migrant labourers in villages and trains
Voters apathy due to political alliances
Voters apathy due to candidate/Party
Large Number of voters in polling station

32. SVEEP
Thank You