Election awareness -The Catalyst Trust Press meet

I had the privilege of attending a press meet today at ITM, Chennai. The meet was organized by “The Catalyst Trust” to explain their activities to create awareness about elections. The speakers included Mr.Krishnamoorthy, Mr.Desigan, Mr.Krishnaswamy, Mr.Venkata Subramanian, Mr.Ragavan. The meet was attended by some from print media, NGOs and students. Some observations made at this meet which are really interesting are given below:

1. In the last Lok Sabha Election in the year 2004 in TamilNadu the percentage of Non-voters is more than the voting percentage of AIADMK and DMK put together.

2. The percentage of educated voters is 40% and this 40% normally stays away from the voting process. (This is really a shame on the educated crowd)

3. The details of 49-O and the purpose of using it when you don’t want to cast your vote to any of the contesting candidates.

4. Steps taken to safeguard the anonymity of the voter who caste 49-O.

5. An interesting observation which referred the Politicians as normal humans and we are suggested to meet the politicians and approach them to know that they are also humans.

6. The security issues during elections and vote for money issues were also discussed.

7. The necessity of media participation in this regard is also referred.

My observation:

1. Why not the educated community coming out to cast its vote?

2. What is the way to abolish the Vote for money mentality of the public and in due course that mentality of the politicians?

3. Why these messages are not reaching the voters and not making an impact even after so many intellectuals and many NGOs through them are involved continuously in campaigns of this sort?

So many unanswered questions…