Building on ECI’s Continuous Efforts:

This initiative builds upon ECI’s ongoing efforts to strengthen electoral literacy across the country. Recently, a similar MoU was signed with the Ministry of Education to integrate electoral literacy into school and college curriculums.

Key Provisions of the MoU:

• Widespread Reach: Banks and postal organizations, along with their affiliated institutions, will disseminate voter education messages through various channels, including:
  • Websites
  • Social media platforms
  • Customer outreach programs
  • Posters and flex boards at prominent locations
• Engaging Stakeholders:
  • Voter Awareness Fora will be established to foster discussions and initiatives related to voter education, engaging both employees and customers.
  • Employees of IBA and DoP will be sensitized about the SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation) training module.
• DoP’s Special Initiative: The Department of Posts will issue special cancellation stamps featuring voter education messages on postal articles.

Addressing Low Voter Turnout:

Despite successfully conducting fair and peaceful elections, the ECI acknowledges the challenge of low voter turnout. In the 2019 General Elections, approximately 30 crore eligible voters did not cast their votes, resulting in a 67.4% voter turnout. This collaboration aims to bridge this gap by empowering citizens with the knowledge and awareness necessary to exercise their electoral rights.

Strengthening Democracy through Collaboration:

This MoU signifies a significant step towards strengthening Indian democracy by:

• Empowering citizens with knowledge about their electoral rights and responsibilities.
• Fostering a culture of informed and active participation in the electoral process.

Background Information:

The Indian Banks’ Association has a vast network of over 247 member banks and 1.63 lakh+ branches across the country. The Department of Posts boasts the world’s most extensive postal network, with over 1,55,000 post offices. This collaboration effectively leverages these widespread networks to reach every corner of the nation and ensure every citizen has access to essential voter information.

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