Taking the Baton to Change the Norm

"I was so excited to be chosen as an election observer," says Shalini from the village of Korakankattu in the Kandawalai DS division. 18 participants, 3 men and 15 women were chosen by PAFFREL as election observers for the Local Authorities election held for the year 2018. Shalini was among the 18 and was given training for 3 days to learn the diplomacies and methodologies that need to be followed during the election monitoring process. There was an excitement in her voice when she said, "I met the Elections Commissioner and was given an opportunity to speak to him during the training sessions. Rare opportunities for those of us who live in villages as we only see important people like him on television". Three days of training was conducted under the European Union funded project by the project partner organization PAFFREL.