Strong plea: ‘LetsVote’ campaigners participating in scooter rally in the city on Sunday.
News and Photo courtesy-The Hindu
HYDERABAD: A row of 50 e-bikes waited in saddle, as a motley group of youngsters huddled near the People’s Plaza, Necklace Road, trying to send out signals of unity by wearing T-shirts that said ‘let’s vote’. The nip in the air raised goose-bumps and the intermittent drizzle drenched them from top to bottom, though it could not do the same to their spirits.
They were there to spread an important message as was evident through the writings on their T-shirts and the placards they were holding.
“Our major aim is to mobilise the educated middle class which usually abstains from the electoral process. We organised similar events during the 2008 elections too, though this is our first such before the GHMC polls. We also campaigned at a few corporate companies,” said Bipin Pendyala, a member of the core committee of ‘LetsVote’.
The NGO began the movement to raise awareness among professionals and citizens to participate in the voting process. The team largely comprises IT employees, working professionals and former bureaucrats.
District Collector Navin Mittal who was to flag off the rally had been the last to arrive, much later than the scheduled time. As if waiting for the moment, the youngsters mounted the damp saddles, and started off their journey with a mission.
The rally astride the BSA Battery Powered Green Scooters raced through the Necklace Road and proceeded to cover Minister Road, M.G. Road, Paradise, S.D. Road, R.P. Road, Tank Bund, A.G. Office Road, Ravindra Bharathi, Lakdikapul, Khairatabad, Raj Bhavan Road, Somajiguda, Begumpet Road and S.P. Road, to finally reach the Parade Grounds. E-bikes were chosen on purpose to campaign for a pollution-free environment, members said.
The NGO also adopted a government primary school in Thummalapalli village of Mahabubnagar district which was flood-affected.
Stationary, geometry boxes, charts, science kits, maps, language kits, maths kits, blackboards, dusters, chalks, and furniture were donated to the school.
A health camp was organised in coordination with Medwin Hospitals.
