People associated with Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)/UP Election Watch have started voters' awareness campaignfor ethical voting in UP assembly elections.

The ADR coordinator major general (retired) Anil Verma and other members were in the city to establish dialogue with people and encourage them to play their role in improving governance and strengthening democracy by ethical voting. "The main goal is to put a check on unethical practices in electoral process by educating and motivating the masses," Verma told TOI on Tuesday

A series of activities like street play, awareness march, film show, youth camps, women's meets, chaupal and dialogue with intellectuals have been planned for this purpose. With a multipronged approach ADR not only conducts detailed analysis of the backgrounds of candidates contesting elections to help the electors make a choice during polls but also educate them about their right choice, said Verma.

Established in 1999 by a group of professors from the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad. The ADR filed a PIL with Delhi high court requesting for the disclosure of the criminal, financial and educational background of the candidates contesting elections. Based on this, the Supreme Court made it mandatory for all candidates to disclose criminal, financial and educational background prior to the polls by filing an affidavit with the Election Commission.

"We are making efforts for empowerment of the electorate through greater dissemination of information relating to the candidates and the parties, for an informed choice," said the local representative Lenin Raghuvanshi of People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights. The ADR will release the analytical report cards of candidates contesting the assembly elections in phase wise, he said adding that ADR has identified 40 assembly constituencies across the state to conduct an intensive voter awareness campaign with an appeal to elect good and fair image candidates..