'Lets vote' campaign launched in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD: The polling day is not a holiday to enjoy. Go out and cast your vote as a responsible citizen for the betterment of life around you. This was the message given by a group of eminent citizens of Hyderabad through a 'Let's Vote' campaign.

Business leaders, professionals, and citizens from other walks of life gathered at KBR Park on Sunday to support the campaign organised by The Indus Entrepreneurs (ITIE), Hyderabad Chapter.

The campaign was aimed at raising awareness among citizens to recognise and realise how important it is for each one of us to vote.

Holding placards calling upon citizens to use their right to franchise, the participants in the walk marched through the park, which is thronged every day by a large number of people from Banjara Hills, Jubliee Hills and other surrounding posh localities.

"Each one of us has a certain level of social responsibility and we hold significant stake in making the world around us better. This responsibility encompasses a number of things. One of the most important commitments among them is to vote," said J.A. Chowdary, president, ITIE Hyderabad.

TiE has invited the citizens to voluntarily come forward and participate and play an active role to strengthen the campaign.

"How do you expect things around you to change when you don't cast your valuable vote. On voting days, most of us spend the time watching cricket matches on television," said All England Badminton champion P. Gopichand.

Ramesh Babu, president elect of ITIE Hyderabad Chapter, said the walk was first of the series of campaigns lined up in the coming days to build awareness among the educated masses of the society about the responsibility to vote as an equal stakeholder in a democratic society.

"Vote is a powerful way to express our aspiration. It is our social responsibility and by engaging in it we can build faith in our decision to choose what makes our lives better," he said.

The organisers will urge Hyderabad-based industries to educate their employees to register for voting before December 31. They will educate existing voters who are employees in various organisations to exercise their voting right in the coming municipal and general elections.
 
They also announced the plans to share polling booths and directions on their website www.letsvote.in The campaign has set a goal to increase the voters in Hyderabad by five per cent in the next five years.

Under the long term plans, the organisers want to take the campaign to other cities in India.