Ahead of civic polls Mumbai colleges use Instagram reels to nudge first-time voters
The DLLE has also conducted demonstration sessions on voting under the new panel system, which requires voters to select corporators spread across multiple wards.
Students trained by the DLLE have been asked to create short, dynamic videos highlighting the importance of voting, how to register, and what first-time voters can expect at polling stations
Ahead of the civic elections, college students across Mumbai have been roped in to create awareness about voting among youngsters, especially first-time voters, with Instagram reels emerging as the most effective outreach tool.
Muskan Parkar from Kalsekar College in Mumbra said, “Voting is not just a right but our responsibility. Municipal elections directly impact our daily lives, so let’s vote and be a responsible citizen.” Zarna Pande from B N Bandodkar College said, “Today I am here to remind you of your power. We often discuss the changes that we want to see in our city – better roads, clean surroundings and smarter development. But remember change doesn’t happen by opinion. It happens by action. On January 15, 2026, we have a massive opportunity with municipal corporation elections taking place that decide the future of our daily lives and local governance. I urge you all to step out and vote.”
These are among the reels being shared by students tasked with creating voting awareness under the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) initiative of the Department of Lifelong Learning and Extension (DLLE), Mumbai University, which has launched a comprehensive campaign across its affiliated colleges. Individual colleges are also holding various activities on their campuses to educate and inform students about voting in the municipal elections.
Students trained by the DLLE have been asked to create short, dynamic videos highlighting the importance of voting, how to register, and what first-time voters can expect at polling stations. Emphasising that social media is most popular among youth, Gaikwad said, “Considering the target audience, the most effective medium of communication was the reels.”
The DLLE has also conducted demonstration sessions on voting under the new panel system, which requires voters to select corporators spread across multiple wards. Student volunteers have been trained to create informative videos explaining the system, which are shared with colleges and on social media to widen outreach. “The idea is to expand the reach of awareness by sharing these videos on social media,” Gaikwad said.
Apart from reels, campuses across Mumbai are witnessing a range of activities such as oath-taking for voting, street plays, flash mobs, signature campaigns and rallies. These initiatives are being organised not only by the DLLE but also by individual colleges with support from the Election Commission.
Dr Madhav Rajwade, principal of Sathaye College, said the Election Commission has deputed one teacher from the college to create voting awareness in the surrounding locality. “In a new format of election duty, one teacher from our colleges is dedicatedly working toward conducting voting awareness activities in the surrounding areas, focused particularly at educating young voters,” he said.
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At Ramnarain Ruia College, various awareness activities for students will be held two days ahead of the January 15 polling. Principal Dr Anushree Lokur said, “With focus on the importance of voting, the activities will include educating students on the process, especially including the knowledge on the new panel-voting system.”
Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra.
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