Janaagraha sparks the flame of democracy

The 5th September of 2011 will bear the markings of history for a reason other than Teacher’s Day. On this day, the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Janaagraha Centre for Citizenship and Democracy signed yet another historic MoU to reform electoral systems. This is no less than a renewal of commitment of both organisations to the cause of progressive democracy in India.

The project to reform electoral systems had small beginnings. It started with the signing of an MoU between the ECI and Janaagraha had signed an MoU on Jul 23, 2010. The pilot project was run in Shanthi Nagar Assembly Constituency (AC) in Bengaluru between Sep, 2010 and May, 2011.

The project transformed into a movement with the mobilisation of 851 citizen volunteers, of whom 305 were actively engaged in the voter list clean-up activity. During the project, the Area Voter Mitras went door-to-door on a mission to add missing names and delete obsolete entries in the voter lists.

By the end of May, 2011, 44,128 forms were submitted to the Chief Electoral Office, Karnataka! This achievement – a combined effort of the ECI, the Booth Level Officers, Janaagraha and importantly the Area Voter Mitras – has brought about a great degree of accuracy in the voter lists of Shanthi Nagar AC.