SHILLONG, JAN 19: Meghalaya’s West Garo hills district deputy commissioner and district election officer Pravin Bakshi has been awarded the second prize in the country by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for best electoral practices.
The award to West Garo hills deputy commissioner, who is also the district election officer, was given for organising the second best campaign in the country for electoral awareness and voters education in the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) Plan envisaged by the ECI.
The award shall be handed over to Bakshi on the National Voters’ Day on January 25 at function in Vigyan Bhavan , New Delhi either by the President or vice-president of India. Along with a citation , cheque of Rs. 50,000 and a certificate will also be presented to Bakshi
All together more than seventy-five nominations were received by the ECI from different states of the country and out of which thirteen were finally shortlisted for the main category award.
On the invitation of the ECI Bakshi made a presentation on January 10 and finally three were selected for the award inclusive of all categories like youth awareness programme for electoral registration and voters education and awareness.
West Garo Hills was the only district in the entire north east to be shortlisted for the award.
Bakshi says the award is a “unique and special recognition award” in the name of the District Election Officer for leading the district machinery and team for voters education and the criteria for selection was based on individual efforts , context of the campaign , challenges faced and outcomes in terms of enrolment
Bakshi said, “.I am happy to know that the Election Commission of India shall also place a commendation for all awardees which will be recorded in the service books of the awardees .
A happy Bakshi dedicates the award to the inspirational and dynamic Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer Prashant Naik who he said has guided the voters education and awareness campaign throughout with his vision , innovation and experience not just in West Garo Hills but all of Meghalaya . He said the number of new electors in the state after special summary revision of 2012-13 has been the highest ever at about lakh which has been strongly commended and widely appreciated by the Election Commission of India .
Bakshi further said that the fact Meghalaya has 100% photo electoral roll coverage and 100% EPIC coverage is a national case study . The state polling percentage of the state at 89% is also a national record, which Bakshi attributes to Naik and his dedicated team with the blessing of the State chief secretary WMS Pariat , and our Commissioner of Division for Garo Hills PW Ingty , besides Vijay Kumar , State Nodal Officer for SVEEP who was also awarded two years ago for the same achievement .
Bakshi doesn’t forget to also dedicate the award to his “spectacular team” of additional deputy commissioners and extra assistant commissioners and staff who, he acknowledged, worked through the night and day in the election branch to make this feat possible.- By Our Reporter
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