Most literate dist chases turnout high

Leaning back in his chair,subdivisional officer Sadar Lawmkima laughs and says,It was right after the rains when we went to eight remote villages to encourage voters to vote. You cant imagine the condition of the roads then,but this may help our Boleros foot-boards fell off.

In a campaign that began as early as July,the administration of Serchhip district has gone all out to ensure it bags the highest turnout on record to complement its reputation of being the most literate district in India at 98 per cent. Led by deputy commissioner Juhi Mukherjee,officials have been travelling through the district that hosts three assembly constituencies to ensure a voter turnout of at least 95 per cent to compete with Tripuras 92 per cent,the highest on record for a general assembly.

As many as 56 Ashas,154 anganwadi workers and 20 gram sevaks have visited all the districts households,establishing face-to-face contact with the 44,871 electors in the three seats and inviting them to vote on Monday. In addition,eight campus ambassadors have been roped in to campaign in the districts higher secondary schools and colleges,their role particularly to educate first-time voters on how to enter the rolls and teaching them how to fill up forms.