Why vote: Now, a 4km trek in Aravalis to spread awareness

Gurgaon: With an aim to create awareness on the importance of voting, the tourism department is set to organise a 4km trek in the Aravalis on Sunday.
The trek, open to all who are aged above 14, will start from Saras Tourist Complex in Damdama around 7am and conclude at Baba Bala Das Temple in Bhelpa.
The zonal head of the tourism department, Harvinder Yadav, said the trek was part of a series of awareness programmes being organised to ensure a high voter turnout in the upcoming assembly elections.
It hopes to attract youth to the ecologically sensitive ranges, Yadav said, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.
"As the youth embark on this journey, they will have the opportunity to interact with one another, share their thoughts on the significance of voting, and collectively reflect on their role in shaping the future of their nation," he said.
The Aravali ranges are home to an array of wildlife including 180 species of birds, 15 species of mammals, 29 species of aquatic animals and reptiles, and 57 species of butterflies.
Elections are scheduled to be held for all 90 members of the Haryana legislative assembly on Oct 5 and the results will be declared on Oct 8. The Election Commission on Saturday revised the polling day, which was earlier scheduled to be held on Oct 1.
Last week, BJP had urged the Election Commission to consider deferring the Oct 1 assembly polls to ensure a better turnout. Pandit Mohanlal Badoli — the state BJP president — had written to the poll panel pointing out that many voters might give the election the miss because Oct 1 is part of a long weekend, during which they might leave home for a holiday.
This long break, Badoli had written, might discourage people from returning to their constituencies just to cast their votes on Oct 1.
On Aug 17, TOI had reported that the long weekend from Sept 28 to Oct 2 had raised apprehension about low voter turnout in the city, where participation in the poll process has stayed mostly below the 50% mark. BJP's concerns likely stemmed from the fact that most people who are likely to use the long weekend for a holiday are from urban areas, considered the party's stronghold.