In the first of its kind in the State...Pro-active CEO confabulates with CSOs, NGOs
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, March 14 2014 : Stepping up the ongoing preparation for the 16th Lok Sabha election, the Chief Electoral Officer today held a meeting with a number of civil society organisations, NGOs and youth clubs, and sought their suggestions and opinions so as to ensure maximum participation of people in the electoral process apart from making it peaceful and fair.

Around 100 representatives of different CSOs, NGOs and youth clubs participated in the meeting held in the conference hall of Old Secretariat this morning.

The meeting deliberated on how to ensure maximum participation of people in the electoral process and what should the NGOs and CSOs do towards this end.

Notably, it was the first time in the electoral history of Manipur that a CEO consulted and assigned certain responsibilities to civil society organisations in order to ensure free and fair election with maximum participation of people.

The CEO during the consultative session with members of CSOs, NGOs and young people

Lauding the CEO's novel efforts, representatives of some CSOs remarked that it would be more fruitful if similar consultation meetings are held district and sub-divisional levels.

Local clubs may even use PA systems in order to ensure maximum participation of people.

Khoisnam Konika, member of the Education Awareness Foundation, Uripok who is going to vote for the first time in her life said that young voters need to be educated on the importance of exercising one's right to vote.

One Laishram Mandir said some people have a notion that elections have nothing to do with the general people and it matters only for the candidates and their supporters.

This misplaced notion and over-simplification of the implications of election need immediate correction, he asserted.

One Ronen of Wangjing Lamding highlighted the importance of creating awareness among voters, particular older ones about the option of NOTA which is making its debut in the 16th Lok Sabha election.

Editors Guild Manipur president A Mobi said that voters should first make themselves as free and fair and they may even think and act as agents of the Election Commission.

CEO O Nabakishore said that the meeting held today has established a huge network for the forthcoming election.

All efforts would be put in to organise similar meetings at the sub-divisional level.

He also mooted the option of a students' rally which would carry the message of peaceful voting.

T-shirts, calendars, cassettes and banners which are embossed with election messages would be distributed to youth clubs which are organising Yaoshang sports meets at the Lamphel election office starting from tomorrow, Nabakishore said.

One individual who acted as a presiding officer in previous elections underscored the crucial importance of the cooperation of local clubs under whose jurisdiction polling stations are situated in order to make the polling process peaceful.

In addition to the 40 companies of central paramilitary forces currently deployed in the State, another 39 companies of central paramilitary forces would be used for the Lok Sabha election and they would start arriving here from March 20 .