Kupwara : In order to review the progress of preparations being put in place with regard to mega plantation drive and SVEEP activities on 20 and 21, April across all polling stations of the district, a meeting was today held under the Chairpersonship of the District Election Officer (DEO) Kupwara, Ms. Ayushi Sudan, at DC Office Complex Kupwara.
The DEO took a detailed appraisal from all DFOs about the arrangements being made regarding mega plantation drive and SVEEP activities across 607 Polling stations of the three forest divisions of the district on 20 April and 21 April (Saturday and Sunday).
On the occasion, the DEO stressed upon DFOs and Nodal Officer SVEEP to formulate a comprehensive action plan for mega plantation drive on 20 April, 21 April in consultation with concerned AROs and ensure arrangement of requisite plant saplings as 20 to 25 plant saplings of plants preferably apricot saplings and other fruit based plant saplings preferably apricot plant to give a blossom effect and semblance will be planted in the premises of each polling stations during the upcomming plantation drive to incorporate sustainable practices to minimize environmental impacts .
The DEO directed the Nodal Officer SVEEP/CEO Kupwara to collaborate with DFOs regarding mega plantation drives and activate VAFs (village level awareness groups and BAGs (Booth level awareness groups) preferably Teachers, AWWs, ASHAs to encourage sustainable practices of forest conservation and ecological balance.
The DEO directed DFOs to organize trekking camps for students at various locations of Kupwara district in consultation with concerned AROs and Nodal Officer, SVEEP to motivate young voters for maximum voting turnout in the district.
The DEO directed all the concerned to work with utmost coordination to make mega plantation drive and SVEEP activities successful and impactful.
On the occasion, chair was apprised that six polling stations of 6 different assembly segments of the district including 36 –Teetwal (Government Higher Secondary School Teetwal), 33 –Dardeharai(Government Higher Secondary School Lone Harai, (64 Salkoote ( Government Boys Middle School Salkoote), 83- Margi Diver- A (Govt.Girls Middle School Margi Diver), 100- Wadipora-A ( Govt. Girls Higher Secondary School Wadipora) and 138-Monbal (Govt. Upper Primary School Monbal) have been designated as green Polling stations.
Ayushi Sudan while highlighting the features of the green/eco-friendly polling stations enjoined upon the concerned to make the polling stations unique and set up innovative models at the waiting areas of polling stations for the poll day and enhance sustainability efforts to showcase a blend of natural elements and eco-friendly materials.
She directed the concerned stakeholders to sensitize voters about eco-friendly measures and encourage them to exercise their right to vote and align the activities with the SVEEP objectives.
Pertinently, eco-friendly/ green model polling stations aim to attract voters and ensure maximum electoral participation while promoting eco-friendly practices among voters and polling officials. This initiative encourages voters to exercise their right to vote while adopting innovative eco-friendly measures, contributing to a litter-free electoral process and underlining efforts toward environmental safety.
The meeting was attended by Nodal Officer, SVEEP, Dy. DEO, DFO Social Forestry, DFO Langate, DFO Kamraj, DFO Kehmil, besides other concerned.
