Delhi polls: CEO mobilises schoolchildren to get parents to vote

The office of the district election officer for South West Delhi, government of the NCT of Delhi, has issued a notice to the deputy director of education for South West Delhi (Najafgarh) and West Delhi (Vikaspuri), instructing them to organise a ‘prabhat rally’ for students in various schools under their jurisdiction.

According to the official notice, the rally will take place on 3 February 2025, starting at 9 a.m.

The notice states: ‘As you are aware, the Delhi Legislative Assembly Election 2025 is scheduled for 5th February 2025. To raise public awareness about voting in Delhi, I request you to organise a Prabhat Rally.’

The notice further outlines the procedures for the rally, which include the following steps:

• Each school will organise a prabhat rally on the specified date and time.

• Students will report to their respective schools, where they will be provided with banners and posters, ensuring uniformity in their appearance.

• Students will participate in a rally through the nearby communities surrounding their schools.

• During the rally, students will be accompanied by their teachers and will chant slogans to encourage local residents to vote.

Earlier this month, election authorities in the national capital launched an initiative called ‘Sankalp Patra’, aimed at motivating parents to vote through their schoolchildren.

The Delhi directorate of education (DoE) has been instructed to implement this initiative, which was launched by the chief electoral officer (CEO), to encourage voter participation in the upcoming assembly elections.

In a letter dated 17 January, it was stated, ‘The Office of the CEO, Delhi, has informed the DoE about a unique initiative named 'Sankalp Patra' for the forthcoming Delhi Legislative Assembly Election 2025.’

This initiative involves a pledge letter, a 'sankalp patra', designed to encourage school students to persuade their parents and family members to vote during the elections, as noted in a DoE circular released on 17 January.

The circular emphasises that the initiative will serve as a moral reminder for parents to cast their vote on polling day.

It further stipulates that schools must establish a system to ensure the timely distribution and collection of signed 'Sankalp Patra' forms.

The CEO’s office has provided a soft copy of the 'Sankalp Patra' in Hindi for prompt printing and distribution among school students. The circular states, ‘The signed pledge forms are to be collected by school authorities after being duly signed by parents.’

Additionally, the CEO's office has requested the directorate to create a monitoring mechanism, such as a Google Form, to track the collection of the signed forms.

The 'Sankalp Patra' reads: ‘Our teacher informed us that the Delhi Assembly elections are scheduled for 5th February, and on that day, voters will cast their ballots. Once we turn 18, we will also have the right to vote.’

It also reminds students that ‘every vote, especially from our families, is essential for a strong democracy’.

The pledge resolution states, ‘We commit to voting in the Delhi Assembly elections on 5th February 2025, without any influence or pressure, and we will encourage others to do the same.‘

In October 2023, the Election Commission of India (ECI) signed a memorandum of understanding with the education ministry to promote awareness about voting rights in schools, as announced by chief election commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar.

“We are signing a memorandum of understanding with the education ministry for students from Year 9 and above,” the CEC stated. “Catching them young.

“They may have just turned 18 and become voters, but they are often not fully aware of voting, its ethos and significance — how to vote, whom to vote for and what considerations to keep in mind. That background is often lacking,” he had explained.

He added that, through this MoU, the ECI aims to incorporate the understanding of voting rights into the school curriculum.

“In five states, there are 6 million first-time voters,” he said.

District offices from other parts of the NCT have clearly also taken up the initiative in various capacities — some more educational than others.