.: They spend an hour a day to ensure you vote

Tuesday, 28 January 2014

They spend an hour a day to ensure you vote

They spend an hour a day to ensure you vote

Posted: 28 Jan 2014 05:44 AM PST

One is an entrepreneur, the other a human resource professional and the third, a mechanical engineering student. But Kapil Saini, Ujval Shankar and Rohit Rao have a common mission: to make Bangaloreans go out and vote on polling day. The trio has devoted an hour each day from their busy schedules for this cause.

The Art of Living, along with BBMP and Jayanagar Merchants' Association through Volunteer for Better India campaign, has created platforms for a young, enthusiastic brigade to create awareness among voters.

Kapil, a 28-year-old businessman from Sanjaynagar, had little idea about voting matrix and poll analysis. But today, he has delivered over 500 talks on the subject and is continuing to enlighten college-goers and corporates on why each vote matters.

"The urban population has always stayed away from exercising their right. This wastes the sacrifices of thousands who got us this democratic right and ensures bad governance. Let's not expect a miracle after one election. But if percentage of voting increases every election, the challenge for politicians to appease more voters becomes tougher," he said. Kapil has taken a six-month sabbatical from work to push Bangaloreans to exercise their franchise for the Lok Sabha election.

The tagline of this platform, 'Contribute an hour for your nation' is what attracted Rohit, 19-year-old engineering student of PES University. "I was one of those who didn't believe that voting would change anything. But engaging in a campaign like this has changed my mind. A lot of others like me have started working an hour or more towards doing something meaningful," he told TOI.

Ujval, an HR professional goes to work for nine hours a day and spends quality time with family, but still manages to fit in an hour to coordinate for awareness workshops or programmes. "Such campaigns enable youth to spend their time in a better way," he said.

On National Voters' Day (Saturday), these young men and women are taking out a bike rally to create awareness among voters on registration.

Source: TOI