National Voters' Day observed
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 25, 2011:
As in other parts of the country, the National Voters' Day was also observed in Manipur today along with distribution of Electors' Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) to the newly enrolled voters and administering voters' pledge to them.
At the State level, the National Voters' Day was observed under the aegis of Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur at GM Hall.
At the occasion, EPICs were distributed among 14 selected newly enrolled voters and voters' pledge was administered to them by State Election Commission Y Rameshchandra.
The voters' pledge stated, �We, the citizens of India, having abiding faith in democracy, hereby pledge to uphold the democratic traditions of our country and the dignity of free, fair and peaceful elections, and to vote in every election fearlessly and without being influenced by consideration of religion, race, caste, community, language or any inducement'.
Giving the key note address of the observance, Chief Electoral Officer of Manipur PC Lawmkunga said that at present there are 16,98,000 voters enrolled in the register of Election Office in Manipur.
Informing that distribution of EPICs to newly enrolled voters who completed 18 years of age this year have been started in all the districts through their respective Deputy Commissioners from today, the Chief Electoral Officer explained that EPICs have great uses in addition to ensuring the political rights of an adult citizen.
State Election Commissioner Y Rameshchandra, who attended the function as chief guest, said that National Voters' Day is being observed in India since 1994 following a decision of the Union Cabinet.
Prior to 1999, the minimum age limit for electors used to be 21 years.
But it has been reduced to 18 years since 1999. People should understand the importance of their respective EPICs and kept them securely.
Apart from distribution of EPICs to newly enrolled voters, prizes of the essay and quiz competitions organised for school students in connection with National Voters' Day observance were also given away to the winners.
The National Voters' Day was also observed at the district level at the DRDA hall located in the office complex of DC Imphal West at Lamphelpat today with DC/DEO, Imphal West in the chair.
The observance was also attended by SDCs (EROs) of Lamphel and Lamshang, newly enrolled voters from 6 polling stations, prize winners of the district level quiz competition held on January 9 and the local residents.
Speaking at the observance, DC/DEO, Imphal West K Radhakumar Singh cited the objectives of Election Commission of India in organising the National Voters' Day extensively at all polling stations and at the district/State levels and appealed all present to increase the voters' enrolment and participate in the democratic process.
The newly enrolled voters of the nearby polling stations were also administered the voters' pledge and their EPICs were distributed at the occasion.
The newly enrolled voters were also provide badges with logo inscribed with slogan �Proud to be a voter - Ready to vote'.
The programme continued with giving away of prizes to the winners of the quiz competition, award of incentives to two EROs of SDO (ERO), Lamshang namely Sh Thaibema Devi and L Kavita Devi and awards best BLOs.
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