As a part of nation-wide launch of Voter Awareness Forums (VAFs) by the Election Commission of India, the State level beginning was made by the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, Shailendra Kumar at an impressive programme organized here this evening.A large number of Nodal Officers, senior government officials from different departments, including Joint CEO, Raman Kumar Kesar attended the programme.The VAF was also simultaneously launched in all districts of the State by the District Election Officers (Deputy Commissioners) where large number of government officials participated.
The Voter Awareness Forums are informal Forums for generating awareness around electoral process through activities like discussions, quizzes, competitions and other activities. All employees of the Departments/Organisations shall become members of the VAF with the Heads of the Organisations acting as Chairperson of VAF.
Briefing the participants, the CEO said that Government officials undertake the task of preserving the electoral process in different capacities and roles. He said it is greater responsibility on the Nodal Officers of various departments to educate their colleagues and staff in their work places and ensuring that all the members of their Departments/Organizations are familiar with the electoral procedure right from enrolment to the casting of the vote to ensure maximum participation of electors in the election process.The CEO said that under the Voter Verification and Information drive which the election authorities is taking up shall facilitate people to check their names and details on Electoral Roll through online NVSP portal of ECI and the Voter Helpline No 1950. The officers were familiarized with concept of Voter Awareness Forum and their role as Nodal Officers of the VAFs.Joint CEO also briefed the participants about the role of the Nodal Officers and said that government functionaries in all departments shall become more familiar with the electoral process and help in ensuring maximum participation of voters in the election process, which is must for healthy democracy. He also thanked the participants for gracing the function.State Nodal Officer SVEEP Riaz Ahmed conducted the proceedings of the function and elaborated on the aim and objective of the VAF.