National Voters’ Day observed across Assam

Correspondents

BILASIPARA: Under the aegis of Bilasipara District Election office in association with the students and staff of Bilasipara College, the 9th National Voters’ Day was observed at Bilasipara.

In this connection, a general meeting was held on Friday in the auditorium of Bilasipara College with Saroj Sanowal, the election officer, Bilasipara in the chair. Biswajit Goswami, lecturer of Bilasipara College explained the aims & objectives of the meeting. At the beginning of the meeting, the students of Sankardev Sishu aru Bidya Niketan sang the opening song. The meeting felicitated a good number of new voters with phoolam gamosa and identity card. Thereafter Rohan Kumar Jha, SDO(Civil), Bilasipara attending the programme as chief guest administered the oath taking ceremony. Jagadananda Barkalita, advocate and president of Bilasipara Senior Citizens Form, Karuna Kanta Sarma, principal, Bilasipara College, Sibaji Karmaker, principal, Sankar Dev Sishu aru Bidya Niketan attended the programme as distinguished guests. Dr. Hari Charan Das, librarian of Bilasipara College as well as SVEET officer anchored the programme.

BOKO: National Voters’ Day was observed at Boko Girls’ High School on Friday. On the occasion, district administration and school administration organized various competitions like art competition, essay writing and quiz competition in the school compound. An awareness meeting was also held on the occasion. Boko Circle Officer Pinki Dutta took part as chief guest and the meeting was presided over by the head teacher of the school Nijara Devi. Boko Circle Officer Pinki Dutta delivered encouraging speech to the students to cast their votes.

HAILAKANDI: The 9th National Voters’ Day (NVD) was celebrated in Hailakandi for enhanced participation of citizens in the electoral process. Speaking at a function organised by the election branch of the district administration at Women’s College here on Friday, Deputy Commissioner, Hailakandi, Keerthi Jalli urged the voters to assert their right by exercising their franchise to strengthen the edifice of democracy. Jalli further asked the youth who have attained 18 years to enrol their names. The Deputy Commissioner said the district administration will ensure that the upcoming Lok Sabha election is conducted smoothly and in a peaceful atmosphere. She warned that stringent action would be taken against anyone disturbing the peace and communal harmony.

Addressing the gathering, Additional Deputy Commissioner, EL Fairhiem said the National Voters’ Day is being observed to create voter awareness and outreach, especially among the new voters. Election Officer, Rahul Doley said the day has been dedicated to the voters of the country and to spread awareness among voters for promoting informed participation in the electoral process.

At the end of the function, the national voters’ day pledge to ‘uphold 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 considerations of religion, race, caste, community, language or any inducement’ was taken by the Deputy Commissioner and other officials.

The day was also observed in government offices across the district. In the run-up to the event, quiz and drawing competitions on the theme of democracy and electoral participation were organised among the school students to instil democratic values. The NVD is celebrated all over the country on January 25 every year since 2011 to mark the foundation day of Election Commission of India (ECI), which was established on 25th January 1950.

The main purpose of the NVD celebration is to encourage, facilitate and maximize the enrolment, especially for the new voters. The ECI has instituted National Awards for Best Electoral Practices and this will be conferred on officers for their outstanding performance in the conduct of elections. In addition, awards will also be given to civil society organisations and media houses that have made outstanding contribution in the field of voters’ awareness and outreach. In view of the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, ‘No Voter to be Left Behind’ has been selected as the theme for the NVD.

Biswanath Chariali: A quiz competition was organised in Biswanath College by Biswanath Election District on the occasion of National Voters’ Day on Friday. A total of 9 teams participated in the quiz competition. Muzzafar Hussain, APS, Dy.S.P (Headquarters), Biswanath, Dr.Debashish Sharma (Faculty member of Physics department) and Dr.Ratul Nath (Faculty member of Botany department) were the quiz masters. The questions centred on the theme of elections keeping in consonance the theme of National Voters’ Day. The questions were widely appreciated by the participants and students alike. It was a toughly contested quiz and eventually, the team comprising of Saurav Bora and DhirajJyotiChutia (students of 2nd Sem, BA Pol Sc) became the winners and the team comprising of Aditya Nayak and Khemraj Mishra (students of 6th sem, BA Pol Sc) emerged as the runners up. Dr.Mrinal Borah- the principal of the college was present in the quiz competition and he exhorted the students to dream big in life and to strive towards excellence.

Also read: Assam News