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CEO Abhijit Sinha enlightening the students on electoral and democracy education in Kohima on August 9.[/caption]
Our Correspondent
Kohima/Dimapur, August 9 (EMN): To reach out to the future voters and to promote a conceptual understanding amongst the students besides creating an awareness to be a responsible voter in future, Chief Electoral Officer of Nagaland, Abhijit Sinha held an interactive session with the students in 15-17 years age group (9th -12th standard) of Rüzhükhrie Government Higher Secondary School (RGHSS), Kohima, this afternoon.
In a brief introduction of the programme, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Vikuo Vero said this programme is an initiative of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to reach out to the future voters of the country to create awareness among the students. He informed that under this initiative a total of 11,800 schools have been covered across the country reaching out to 25,11,594 students.
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DC Dimapur, Kesonyu Yhome, speaking to students of Cornerstone Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, on August 9.[/caption]
Vero also informed that under this initiative, it has already covered two schools in Kohima namely Mezhür Higher Secondary School and Mt. Hermon Higher Secondary School.
Addressing a jam-packed hall, Sinha said election is the bedrock of a healthy democracy where participatory elections lead to a participative democracy and responsive governance.
Expounding on the importance of qualitative participation through ethical and informed voting, Sinha asserted that students who are the age group of 15-17 years have very importance role to play when they reach the age of 18 years giving them the franchise their votes in a free and fair manner.
Explaining in detail through a power presentation on who can vote? Who can be registered on the electoral roll? And the procedures on how to enrol oneself, Sinha maintained that it is the duty of every person as a citizen of a democratic country to enrol him/herself when one attains the age of 18 years.
Denouncing the electoral malpractices and manipulations in the State, Sinha advised the students not to be induced by anyone through cash or kind but be very wise in choosing a good leader.
‘Don’t think that your vote will not make a difference,’ Sinha said and reminded them that the inaction of every person affects the democracy of the country.
In a hand out, the Election Department of Nagaland stated that in the recent past, with the intrusion of urban electoral apathy, electoral malpractices/manipulations and making false declarations are getting embedded in preparation of electoral roll and conduct of election.
In an effort to wipe out the electoral malpractices and manipulations, the department has been actively campaigning to provide continuous electoral and democracy education to all, to increase electoral participation through voter registration and turnout and increase qualitative participation in terms of ethical and informed voting.
In this regard, it appealed to all government departments and credible civil societies to join hands to carry out the work of voter education and awareness campaigns all over the State towards achieving a well informed population on all aspects of electoral participation and motivated to participate in the process of elections and democratic governance.
Meanwhile, as part of the Interactive School Engagement (ISE) under Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP), the Deputy Commissioner & District Election Officer, Dimapur, Kesonyu Yhome, visited Cornerstone Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, while the Additional Deputy Commissioner & Electoral Registration Officer, Dimapur, Sara S Jamir, visited Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, and interacted with young students.
The young students were sensitised on the electoral process in general and on registration and voting procedure in particular. The young students were encouraged about enrolling their names in the electoral roll as and when they attain the qualifying age of eighteen years.
Altogether, about 400 students from Cornerstone Higher Secondary School and about 800 students from Don Bosco Higher Secondary School attended the programme.
A powerpoint presentation on electoral process, registration and voting procedure was also presented by Roland Merry, Assistant Election Officer, Dimapur, at Don Bosco Higher Secondary School, Dimapur. The students were also given a badge each “I am the future voter of India” and a brochure “How do I register and vote?”
The Interactive School Engagement programme (ISE) has been conceptualised to target young people falling within the 15-17 years age group who have been identified by Election Commission of India as the “Future Voters” and is also meant to provide a platform to connect them with the election machinery.
