From Disneyland to Dhandepalli: Mickey’s New Mission Is Voter Forms
HYDERABAD: Mickey Mouse has taken on an unusual assignment in rural Telangana. Instead of entertaining children, the popular cartoon character is helping election officials encourage voters to submit their Special Intensive Revision (SIR) forms before the July 24 deadline.
At Medaripet gram panchayat in Dhandepalli mandal of Mancherial district, people dressed as Mickey Mouse, Motu Patlu and other cartoon characters are joining the sarpanch and local officials in a door-to-door awareness campaign. They are urging residents to fill out and submit their voter enrolment forms.
The colourful campaign has attracted attention across the village and made the awareness drive more engaging.
Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are also visiting homes where residents have not submitted their forms. They explain the enrolment process and help eligible voters complete the paperwork. Officials are also reminding residents to submit the forms within the deadline to avoid issues with government welfare services.
Officials use different campaigns to boost participation
Dhandepalli Mandal MPDO JR Prasad said officials have launched multiple awareness campaigns to reach every household. The aim is to complete the digitisation process within the stipulated timeline.
Across villages in the erstwhile Adilabad district, sarpanches and local officials have intensified their outreach. They want to ensure all completed forms reach Booth Level Officers before July 24.
Traditional methods and social media go hand in hand
Besides the mascot campaign, officials have revived traditional awareness methods. Teams are making tom-tom announcements, also known as Dappu Chaatimpu, in villages. Bicycles fitted with loudspeakers are making morning and evening rounds to remind residents about the deadline.
Officials are also using WhatsApp groups to spread information about voter enrolment and the importance of submitting SIR forms. The campaign now reaches people both on village streets and on their mobile phones.
