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India Features

Partnerships and Collaborations

Strengthening Indian Democracy

lections in India amaze the world with and Family Welfare, Defence, External Affairs,
their scale and diversity. The Elections Home Affairs, Housing and Urban Affairs, Skill
E Commission of India (ECI) has been a Development and Entrepreneurship, etc.
paragon of conducting free, fair, accessible and Partnerships with Public Sector Enterprises
inclusive elections. Even as millions of officials, and Corporate Houses play a significant role in
functionaries and security personnel are integral enhancing citizen engagement. ECI has partnered
for conducting elections, numerous partners and with Chambers of Commerce like CII, ASSOCHAM
collaborators play a critical role in fulfilling the and FICCI and other associations like NASSCOM at
mandate of ‘No Voter to be Left Behind’. the national level. Further, the regional and state
Over the years, there have been numerous chambers are approached at the state/ district
partnerships and collaborations of ECI with various level for ground-level initiatives. Also, numerous
stakeholders. Greater participation of stakeholders collaborations are undertaken at the State level/
implies greater citizen engagement in the election district level with market associations, trade
process. ECI has forged partnerships with a associations, manufacturers associations, hotel
variety of partners successfully. It has chalked out associations, medical associations, etc., for reaching
fruitful collaborations, both in the government and out to eligible voters for participating in elections.
non-government sectors to tap new voters and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have played
promote greater awareness among them regarding a significant catalytic role in enhancing citizen
electoral processes as also to utilize their existing engagement, especially in the areas of reaching
infrastructure and manpower for electoral education out to the last mile in furtherance of the Election
and outreach. Commission’s goal. CSOs including Resident Welfare
Partnerships with Central Ministries, Association (RWAs) and Self-help Groups (SHGs) are
Departments, Public Sector Undertakings (PSU), a great source of expanding their reach. They have
Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs), Civil Society contributed significantly in terms of creative inputs
Organizations (CSOs), Non-governmental and outreach and have been a source of inspiration
Organizations (NGOs), Corporate and media. for election functionaries.
Partnerships are developed at the national level Partnering with Media has amplified the impact
by ECI, state level by Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of voter education programs of ECI. Partnerships
and district level by District Election Officer (DEO). have been forged with National Television channel
Intensive collaborative and participative initiatives (Doordarshan), private television channels,
with existing partners are undertaken during the print media, radio, community radio and social
election period along with continuous awareness media. Media houses in print, TV, and radio
activities during the non-election period with these have significantly contributed to the success
partners. of Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral
ECI works in collaboration with the Ministry of Participation (SVEEP) program and have voluntarily
Education, Youth Affairs and Sports, Health and participated in numerous voter education activities.
Family Welfare, Rural Development, Social Justice Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of each state forges
and Empowerment, Women and Child Development, partnerships with State Government Departments,
Railways, Information and Broadcasting, Agriculture Municipal Corporations and Urban Local Bodies

October 2022 | VoICE International | 13