To nurture a strong voting culture among school children and to sensitize them about the entire voting process, the Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore (RAAC) organized a Student Parliament Election at Panchayat Union Middle School in Keeranatham, Coimbatore recently.
The activity was funded by Robert Bosch, 30 students of the school contested in the activity; 5 for the post of Chief Minister and the rest for various cabinet minister posts. 241 students of the school have cast their votes in the election.
The process was held mirroring how an actual election would take place. A replica polling booth was created and 4 Polling officers were assigned. Taking this election to the next level, the occasion saw the introduction of a replica EVM, which is probably the first time to be used in a School Parliament Election.
The volunteers from Bosch will visit the elected representatives of the school once in 2 weeks and guide them on various works that should be done in the school. The Germany-based engineering giant has been supporting this school in various ways through its CSR funds for the last 1.5 years.
It has sponsored various infrastructural development projects in the school. With the intent to support the Coimbatore District Administration’s aspiration to make the district achieve 100% voter turnout, RAAC undertook various awareness activities before the last election, Raveendran, Honorary Secretary, RAAC said.
This event is a great foundation for the future and this practice of taking part in elections and contesting in them will help you learn to become leaders, understand the needs of the people among you and serve them better, said Anand Venkatesan, Sr.Manager-HR, Robert Bosch – Coimbatore.
The event was also attended by P.K. Govindan, Revenue Divisional Officer, Coimbatore (North) Revenue Division; Palanisamy, President, Keeranatham Panchayat; Immanuel Alphonse Lead – CSR, Bosch Global Software Technologies, Coimbatore; Jebalancy, Principal, Panchayat Union Middle School in Keeranatham, Coimbatore.
