Mangaluru: To create awareness among voters about the need to exercise franchise and to increase voting percentage, the SVEEP committee of Dakshina Kannada will organise jalathan, blood donation camp and poets meet.

Briefing reporters on Tuesday, ZP CEO Dr M R Ravi, who is also chairman of SVEEP Committee, said that to sensitise fishermen and those living on the shores, jalathan will be organised on April 8. Two ferry boats and 8 mechanised boats will ferry public and officials from Bokkapattna Kallurti Daivasthana for two kilometres in Phalguni river to create awareness. The decked boats will have banners and slogans will be raised to create awareness on the need for exercising franchise. The boat will pass through an island, Bharathi Shipyard, Thannirbavi before reaching Sulthan Bathery.

A human chain will be formed at Sulthan Bathery in association with the members of Boloor Mahajana Sangha. The public will be administered with a pledge to exercise franchise.

The unique programme will create awareness among 1,500 to 2,000 people directly and 4,500 to 5,000 voters indirectly.

The SVEEP committee will organise a blood donation camp in which over 50 officials from zilla panchayat will donate blood at Nethravathi hall on April 4. The camp is being organised with the theme ‘jeeva ulisalu rakthadana desha ulisalu mathadana’ (blood donation to save life and exercising franchise to strengthen democracy).

The SVEEP committee along with DK district Kannada Sahithya Parishat will organise a multi-lingual poets’ meet with the theme ‘nanu matha chalayisuthene’ (I will exercise my franchise) at Town Hall on April 5.

The meet will be inaugurated by writer H Dundiraj. As many as 17 poets will recite poems. About 10 poets will recite poems in Kannada, two in Tulu, one each in English, Hindi and Beary and two in Konkani languages.

DK district Kannada Sahithya Parishat president Pradeep Kumar Kalkura said that the Parishat had received 150 poems for the meet. A committee scrutinised and selected 17 poems for reciting.

He said that SVEEP committee has selected Dharmasthala Dharmadhikari D Veerendra Heggade, MAHE former VC Dr B M Hegde, magician Kudroli Ganesh, actor Navin D Padil, theatre director Devadas Kapikad, writer Saara Aboobakkar, and 91-year old Lalitha Rai who has been exercising her franchise since the beginning of elections in India. A CD containing their appeal to the voters will be released shortly.

Earlier in the day, a mobile voter awareness vehicle was flagged off by SVEEP Committee Chairman Dr M R Ravi and Principal District and Sessions Judge K S Bilagi. The vehicle will create awareness in Mangaluru South, Mangaluru North and Mangaluru Assembly constituencies.