Chief Electoral officer, Punjab Dr. S. K. Raju said that the election Commission of India is fully geared up for upcoming lok sabha polls in Punjab and VVPAT machines would be used for all 23124 polling booths in 13 Parliamentary constituencies across the state.Today addressing the gathering at state level function on National voters day here in Ryat group of institutions, Dr. Raju said that the election Commission has taken many steps for free and fair polling in lok sabha polls besides ensuring larger participation of young voters. He also informed in the next election more than 2.50 lakh first time voters would cast their votes. He said that the election Commission of India was set up on this day in 1950 and since 2011, national voters day was celebrated across the nation.Talking about the VVPAT, CEO said that the voter verifiable paper audit trail allows the voters to see a printed slip for 7 seconds showing the serial number, name and symbol of your chosen candidate. It allows the voter to confirm that your vote has gone to the candidate of your choice.He said that the maximum participation of voters in democratic process was the key for formation of a good government. Administering the oath to need for exercising their franchise by rising above the caste, color, creed or sex, CEO said that the special efforts would be made to engage the students for electoral participation in educational institutions.
Earlier Deputy Commissioner, Ludhiana Mr. Pardeep aggarwal and Deputy Commissioner kapurthala Mohammed tyab were awarded with "Best performers" as district electoral officer especially to create awareness for ethical voting and registration of new voters. Besides that SDM Jaiton anamdeep kaur was awarded with best ERO and Pankaj kumar as best BLO. For SVEEP activities, Naresh mahajan from Pathankot, and suresh kumar from Bathinda were also awarded. Director IIT Roopnagar, Dr. S. K. Das hailed the democracy of India and said that the belief of comman man in Indian electoral process is the real strethen of democracy.Thanking the CEO Punjab for organising the state level function at Roopnagar, Deputy Commissioner Dr. Sumit Jarangal said that the district administration has approched the youth for registration as voter so that no voter to be left behind to cast his/her vote in elections.On the occasion to aware the people and especially the students various stalls were installed. The district administration has also launched signature campaign to aware the ethical voting, where Director IIT Ropar Dr. S. K. Das, Deputy commissioner have written their messages.Prominnet amongst present on the oaccssion included ADC Rajeev kumar Gupta, SDM Harbans Singh, Dr. Suresh Seth campus director of Ryat institite.