Dimapur to host town hall for political parties

Dimapur, April 1 (EMN): A civil society-initiated town hall to encourage people to vote ethically is being organised to be conducted on April 2 in Dimapur, before the April 11 Lok Sabha elections. The interactive event has the slogan “Elections belong to us.” It is led by the Coordination Committee on Participation in Democracy, comprising three organisations from several parts of Northeast India including Nagaland, a press release from the organisers stated on Monday. The interactive session is essentially an attempt to discuss the peoples’ agenda in the elections for 2019,” the organisers stated. The programme will start at 10:00 am at the Don Bosco School premises in Dimapur. The event is being organized by the CAN Youth, Path Finders and supported by Social Actions for New Alternatives-India, the updates stated. The organisers informed that several key issues that impact the process of development of the state of Nagaland and its people will be taken up for discussion during the interactions. The issues include the peace process; roads and infrastructure, law and order, education, quality medical benefits for all; human trafficking; participation of women in decision making; youth and unemployment; rights of persons with disabilities; citizens’ amendment bill; and electoral reforms. Political party representatives will be asked to speak some of the key features of their manifestoes, and subsequently engage in an interaction with members of the Civil Society, educational institutions and voters in general representing various sectors, the press release stated. “This platform will be designed in a way to allow voters to be able to interact with political parties before the election. Voters’ will get the opportunity to make their voice heard and be able to ask all intending candidates or their party representatives to answer some of the questions they have about the election manifestoes.” The idea is for voters representing various sections of society to be able to live the saying ‘elections belong to us’ by directly participating in the process, the organisers stated. The organisers expressed strong belief that election provides the people an excellent opportunity to “put our democracy to test and that best happens when the process is participatory and where the voice of the people is heard.” This is what the organisers aim to achieve in their goal to ensure a meaningful participation of voters, especially the marginalized groups in the electoral process, the organisers stated. All the political parties contesting in the Lok Sabha elections of 2019 have consented to be part of the interface and share their thoughts in an open, free and upfront discussion with the voters, the press release stated. Civil Society will be represented by leading organisations working on various issues related to peace, development, urban issues, women, youth, labour, environment, Human Trafficking, Person with Disabilities besides participation by educational institutions and students. “The outcome of the interface will be presented in the form of a report with recommendations and widely distributed to all relevant stakeholders, in particular intending candidates and political parties before the election day and after the announcement of the results and through a large part of the post-election period.” “Content of the report will also be made available to the news media for creating a mass awareness of the interface and its outcome and the possible follow-up action plan in the post-election period.” Those interested in participating in the event can register through SMS by sending their full name to the phone numbers 9856767224 or 9612678999, the press release added.