SHILLONG, JAN 25: Meghalaya additional chief secretary BK Dev Verma said that there has been an increase of 2.56 lakhs of voters in the state compared to the 2008 elections even as he appealed to the youths to exericise their franchise and make India a more vibrant and responsive democracy.
Speaking on the occasion of the National Voters’ Day celebration in the city, Verma said, “The total number of voters this year is 14.89 lakhs, out of which 7.36 lakh are men and 7. 53 lakh are women.” He said there is an increase in the voting percentage in the last election.
Celebrating the National Voters Day, the state election department a “Run for Democracy” where around 200 people, that includes the young and old, participated.
The run was flagged off from U Soso Tham Auditorium at 7 am and the runners run through Police Bazaar, Motphran, Jeep Stand, GS Road, Stanley Roy Petrol Pump, Mawlai Nonglum, Mawlai Mawdatbaki, FCI, Mawroh, PTS, Golflinks, Polo Bazaar, Fourth Furlong, MES, Rynjah, Khlieh Nongthymmai, St Edmund’s and culminated at the starting point.
Cash awards of Rs 25, 000, Rs 20, 000 and Rs 15, 000 were given to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd winners respectively.
Verma informed that Meghalaya is one of the five states in the country which has got 100 per cent coverage of photo electoral rolls, and 100 per cent distribution of EPIC.
Informing that \the National Voters’ Day is being observed throughout the country on this day when the Election Commission of India came into existence in 1950, Verma said, “The theme behind this special day is ‘greater participation for a stronger democracy,” and the punch line for the event is ‘proud to be a voter – ready to vote.”
Verma said this initiative of the commission was envisaged to give the youth a sense of empowerment, pride and participation, and inspire them to exercise their franchise, adding “It also aims to provide the unrepresented youth of the country an opportunity to give vent to their feelings and help them become a part of the political process.”-
He further called on the voters to come forward and exercise their franchise on February 23 to ensure that we have a strong democracy in the state.-By Our Reporter
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