*Making Elections Inclusive, Accessible and Participative* _12th National Voters Day celebrated in Doda with ardour and fervor._

Doda, January 25: Twelfth National Voter’s Day was celebrated across the country today. This year theme for National Voter’s Day was “Making Elections Inclusive, Accessible and Participative”. 

 

On the same lines, Doda Administration also celebrated National Voter’s Day. The main function was held at Mini Meeting Hall of DC office Doda under strict observance of Covid-19 SOPs. 

 

Here during the program District Election Officer  (Deputy Commissioner) Doda, Vikas Sharma administered Pledge and Distributed Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) to the newly registered voters besides also felicitated the BLOs on their meritorious  performance in registration of new voters and in dessamination of awareness in their respective jurisdictions. 

 

The Booth level Officers (BLOs) who were felicitated here include Joginder Singh, Mohammad Ashraf and Bashir Ahmed.

District Election Authority Doda also comended Dr Akhter Hussain HOD Urdu, Govt Degree College Doda who played his role as master trainer during the previous Elections and had created short IEC videos on YouTube which had gained popularity among voters. It was given out that one of his short videos had crossed 4.5 lakh viewership. 

The DEO was accompanied by Dy District Election Officer Doda, Mohammad Idrees Lone, DIO Doda Mohd Ashraf Wani, ENT Doda and other officials of Election Office during the event.

 

District Election Officer (DC) Doda also interacted  virtually with EROs, AEROs,  CEO Doda, Principals of Degree colleges, Principals of Higher Secondary Schools and BLOs.

 

In his virtual address he reiterated that Election Authorities have taken numerous steps and reforms to make the elections free, fair, transparent, inclusive, accessible and Participative. Introduction of EVM, VVPAT, basic amenities at polling stations, etc, are few among them. 

 

He appealed, the youth who have turned 18 years, to register themselves in voter list taking help of BLO concerned or through online mode and participate in every election thereby contribute in strengthening of world’s largest democracy.

 

He also urged the EROs and AEROs to felicitate the meritorious BLOs of their areas after reviewing their performance.

 

Similar function was held at Bhaderwah also where ERO (ADC) Bhaderwah Rakesh Kumar administered the pledge and distributed EPICs among the newly registered voters.

 

Further it was reported that similar kind of functions with Covid-19 safety protocols were held at Subdivision headquarters of Thathri, Assar, Gandoh, at all tehsil headquarters and at Booth level, where Voter’s pledge was taken, EPICs were distributed and importance of elections in democracy and measures taken by Election Authorities to make elections free fair and transparent were highlighted.