The 6th National Voters’ Day was celebrated across Jammu division with enthusiasm and overwhelming response of voters.At Ramban a rally was flagged off by District Development Commissioner (DEO), Ramban, Bashir Ahmed Dar from the Government Higher Secondary School which concluded at the JKTDC Tourist Bungalow after passing through the Ramban market.All the participants including senior civil officers, Sarpanches, Panches and prominent citizens were given a collective pledge to exercise their right to vote in a fair manner without any fear, favour or prejudice. Eight Booth Level Officers were given the certificates of appreciation for achieving 100% Photo Electoral Registration in their respective areas. Besides, some Photo EPICs were also distributed among the new electors.
Speaking on the occasion the DDC, eulogized the vibrant and biggest democracy of India and reminded that on the same day in 1951 the Election Commission of India had come into existence and four years ago on January 25, 2011 the first National Voters; Day was observed throughout the country.
AT KATHUA 6th National Voters Day was celebrated with enthusiasm across the district today. The day-long celebrations started with flagging off a massive students rally from the premises of Government Girls Higher Secondary School Kathua by ADDC Dr. Manmohan Singh.Deputy Commissioner Kathua Ramesh Kumar while greeting people on the Voters Day laid thrust upon the need to make fair use of their right to franchise. He said that the theme of National Voters Day is “Inclusive and Qualitative Participation” which aims that all the eligible Voters shall be registered and shall cast their right to franchise without any bias.
He also distributed EPIC’s among the newly enrolled voters besides a pledge taking ceremony was also held.Similar programmes were organized at all the tehsils headquarters and at all the polling station levels across the district. At Basohli, the main function was held at Ramlila Ground during which SDM Basohli Gurmukh Singh was the chief guest.At Bani, the main function was held at Government Girls Higher Secondary School Bani, SDM Bani Rajesh Basotra presided over the function.Similar function was also held at GDC Hiranagar where SDM Sohan Lal administered pledge to the students.
At Billawar SDM Billawar R.S Charak flagged off a student’s rally from Government Higher Secondary School Billawar.
AT KISHTWAR, to mark the National Voters Day various programmes including a cultural programme, pledge to the participants, distribution of Epic cards and felicitation of Best performing BLOs was held at an impressive function held at Government Higher secondary school Kishtwar. District Election Officer Kishtwar, G. N Balwan was the chief guest on the occasion.Throwing light on the importance of the day he said the day is celebrated in the country to educate new voters about the ethical and qualitative participation in the electoral process. He appealed all the eligible voters to register themselves as voters and participate in the electoral process. He also asked the participants to disseminate message of “Inclusive and Qualitative participation”. Electoral Photo Identity Cards(EPICs) were also distributed by DEO among the newly registered voters.Best performing Booth Level Officers were also felicitated.
ADC Kishtwar, Kishori Lal, ACD Kishtwar Akhtar Qazi and other District officers participated in the function. Similar functions were held across the District.
AT DODA, District Election Officer Doda, Bhupinder Kumar today flagged off a massive rally of about 300 students from the Government Boys Higher Secondary School Doda which after passing through the town culminated at GHSS Boys Doda.
The students carrying banners and placards raised the slogans highlighting the importance of participating in the electoral process.Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) were also distributed by DEO among the newly registered voters. Six best performing BLOs were also felicitated on the occasion. Highlighting the importance of this day, the DEO said that this day is celebrated in the country to welcome the newly registered voters and to educate them about the ethical and qualitative participation in the electoral process.
ADDC Doda Er Nariender Sigh Bali,Tehsildar Doda Nasir Ali , DIO Doda Anoop Kumar, Principal GHSS Boys Doda Tanveer Ahmed Wani among others participated in the function.At Bhaderwah an awareness rally was flagged off by Sub Divisional Magistrate Bhaderwah Mohammad Anwar Banday from SDM Office Bhaderwah which after passing through Bhaderwah town culminated at Dak Banglow Bhaderwah where various speakers including the SDM Bhaderwah highlighted the importance of the Day.
AT REASI, 6th National Voter’s Day was celebrated at District Headquarters where the District Election Officer ( Deputy Commissioner ) Reasi Sushma Chauhan was the chief guest on the occasion.ADDC Reasi, Bhawani Rakwal, ADC Shiv Kumar Gupta, Assistant Commissioner Revenue Abdul Sattar, ACD Suram Chand Sharma and officers of different departments, representative of colleges, schools, and large number of students of various institutions were present on the occasion.
While speaking on the occasion, DEO highlighted the importance of the National Voters Day (NVD) and said that the objective of the day was to aware the general masses to increase the enrolment of voters so that maximum number of voters could participate in the electoral process. DEO also handed over EPICS to the newly registered voters.
Later, an awareness rally of students drawn from various colleges and schools was also flagged off by the DEO and a pledge to all the participants to uphold the dignity of elections and vote was also administered on the occasion.
Similarly, NVD was also celebrated at subdivision, Tehsil and booth levels of the district.
At RAJOURI, 6th National Voters 'Day was celebrated with the theme "Inclusive and Qualitative Participation" in a function organised at Dak Bungalow, Rajouri. Vice Chairman, Pahari Advisory Board, Kuldeep Raj Gupta ,MLA Qammar Choudhary, MLC Vibodh Gupta, DDC Shabir Ahmed Bhat, Additional District Development Commissioner, Avtar Singh Chib, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, Mumtaz Choudhary, Assistant Commissioner (Rev), Paramjeet Singh, senior citizens and a large of students were also present on the occasion. Addressing hundreds of college students, District Election Officer said that as a responsible citizen we all should contribute towards strengthening of democracy.
Earlier, rallies of students were also organized which passed through different parts of the town to spread awareness among voters regarding effective participation in the electoral process, with the slogans "Be the change, you want to see" , "Have a vision and Vote" etc.
AT SAMBA, a rally was flagged off by District Development Commissioner, Samba, Sheetal Nanda in which District Level Officers, general public and students carrying placards with slogans participated.
The rally started from Govt. Degree College, Samba and culminated at Kehli Mandi, Samba.
District Development Commissioner, Samba, Sheetal Nanda while speaking on the occasion impressed upon the voters to ensure greater participation in the elections for strengthening democracy in the country .She also administered National Voters Day Pledge to the participants on the occasion. Freshly enrolled voters were also distributed Elector’s Photo Identity Card (EPIC).
Similarly, National Voters Day was celebrated at Ghagwal also.
At POONCH, the main function was held in the premises of Government Degree College Poonch which was attended among others by the District Election Officer, Mohammad Harun Malik, Principal GDC, Tajinder Singh, Additional Superintendent of Police, Amit Gupta, Assistant Electoral Registration Officer, Wakeel Ahmed Bhatt besides district officers, professors, prominent citizens and students.
Speaking on the occasion, District Election Officer highlighted the importance of right to franchise and said that the main objective of NVD celebrations is to increase enrollment of voters, especially the newly eligible ones and to spread awareness among voters regarding effective participation in the electoral process.Similarly National Voters’ Day was celebrated at Tehsil, Niabat and Polling Booth level under the supervision of concerned Electoral Registration Officers.
At Udhampur, National Voters' Day was celebrated at Polling Stations, Tehsil and Sub-Divisional headquarters in district Udhampur. The main event was organised at district headquarters where a cultural programme, photo exhibition, awareness event and a number of competitions were organised.
District Election Officer, Udhampur, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary inaugurated the electoral photo exhibition and display centre where in photographs on electoral participation and ethical voting were displayed apart from models on different themes. Project Officer, DRDA, Dr Jagdish Mehra organised the event and presented welcome address and Prof Sudhir Singh Jamwal conducted the proceedings. Out of more than 6000 voters added in the electoral rolls, 50 were presented the Electoral Photo Identity Cards in district function and rest at tehsil and booth level offices.Young voters and students from Govt Degree College (Boys and Girls) and various schools presented cultural programmes and prize winner of debate competition on "Inclusive and Qualitative Participation" debate competition also presented their views. Painting and slogan writing competitions were also organised.
Dr Shahid, in his address, appealed the young voters to spread the message of electoral participation and ethical & informed voting. He called for a mass movement to strengthen democracy by greater and qualitative participation across the regions. He lauded the organisers for a rich electoral photo exhibition which will be further taken to various schools and public places for awareness. More than 20 awards were presented to winners of various competitions and staff of election department and other organisations for their outstanding contribution in electoral work. ADDC Arvind Sharma, ADC Angrez Sing Rana, CPO Rakesh Jamwal, ACD Joginder Rai,ACR, Principal Degree College S S Bhalwal, CMO Dr Chander Parkash, PO ICDS, ARTO, DSWO and various district officers were present in the event apart from young voters, students and faculty members of colleges and schools.