VOTERS EDUCATION AND ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION IN LEFT WING EXTREMISM AFFECTED SURGUJA DISTRICT OF CHHATTISGARH Presented by: Sundarraj P Superintendent of Police Surguja District, Chhattisgarh Electoral participation in LWE areas CHALLENGES & STRATEGIES Why electoral participation challenging in LWE areas ? Vs How does maoist react to elections - Poll boycott calls - mispropaganda against the elections - targeting the political functionaries - killing the innocent civilians - harming the officials on election duties - snatching away EVMs and poll materials - inflicting casualities on security troops Poll boycott call by naxals .... Poisoning the mind of the voters by mispropaganda Naxal violences during elections in Chhattisgarh. Type of incidents2003 Assembly polls 2004 LS Polls 2008 Assembly polls 2009 LS Polls 2013 Assembly polls 2014 LS Polls Landmine blasts & Firing Looting of EVMs Killing of civilians & political functionaries Killing of Poll officials Security personnel Caualities Targeting the security forces deployed on election duties Election boycot call and violence by naxals leads to LESSER VOTER PARTICIPATION & THREAT TO OUR DEMOCRACY TASK ON HAND!!! ROAD AHEAD !!! Confidence Building Measures Police as active SVEEP Partner Comprehensive security plan Confidence Building Measures for voters : -- Regular visit to remotest areas by senior officials and security forces -- Interaction with the voters and motivating them to exercise their democratic duties -- Specific targets of youth and women Appeal through print and electronic media Confidence Building Measures in the naxal affected areas by area domination operations:,,,,,,,,,,, Police as an active partner of SVEEP Program: OUTCOME OF THE VOTER EDUCATION AND ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION PROGRAME IN SURGUJA DISTRICT S.N. DistrictTurnout 118-SURGUJA80.19% 221-BALRAMPUR77.44% 316-RAIGARH77.15% 47-JASHPUR77.05% 527-SURAJPUR75.96% 611-DHAMTARI75.88% 76-KORIA75.73% 815-RAJNANDGAON75.49% 923-GARIYABAND74.48% 1024-KONDAGAON74.14% 1124-KONDAGAON73.50% 1212-BASTAR (JAGDALPUR)73.44% 1314-MAHASAMUND72.68% 145-KORBA72.60% 153-KABIRDHAM71.27% 1620-BALOD70.35% 1710-DURG66.42% 184-UTTAR BASTAR KANKER65.90% 1913-BILASPUR65.64% 2017-RAIPUR65.64% 2125-MUNGELI64.75% 2222-BEMETARA63.96% 238-JANJGIR-CHAMPA63.00% 2419-BALAUDABAAZAAR62.82% 259-DAKSHIN BASTAR DANTEWADA50.31% 262-NARAYANPUR45.00% 271-BIJAPUR35.60% As an outcome of the targeted voter education and electoral participation program conducted in the left wing extremism affected district of Surguja during the 2014 Parliamentary election, Surguja has recorded voter turnout with percentage, which is highest not only in Chhattisgarh but also among all the sixty left wing extremism affected districts of the country HIGH VOTER TURNOUT IN LWE AREAS IS A GREAT LEAP FORWARD BECAUSE THANK YOU