Jammu and Kashmir Election Department, today celebrated 12th National Voters’ Day on the theme “Making Elections Inclusive, Accessible and Participative”.In this regard, the department organized a grand UT level event at Nirvachan Bhawan Jammu in which Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta, administered the NVD Pledge to all Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners, District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers besides other officers and officials of J&K through virtual mode in view of COVID-19 pandemic.Administrative Secretaries, Divisional Commissioners, District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and other officers/officials across the UTs of J&K and Ladakh attended the function through virtual mode.A message of Chief Election Commissioner of India, Sushil Chandra, was also telecast during the function.
Addressing the participants, Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, Hirdesh Kumar, said that the need of the hour is to educate the voters about the ethical and qualitative participation in electoral process as the theme for this year's NVD, 'Making Elections Inclusive, Accessible and Participative', envisages focus on ECI's commitment to facilitate the active participation of voters during the elections and to make the complete process hassle-free and a memorable experience for all categories of voters.He further said that the main focus of ECI during the year 2022 is to encourage all kinds of electorates including person with disabilities, youth, women electors, and senior citizens besides ensuring that all are registered so that they can exercise their right to franchise in future elections.Highlighting the importance of online facilities being provided by Election Commission of India like Voter Portal (www.nvsp.in), Voter Helpline Mobile App, he urged upon the masses to utilize these digital platforms fully by getting themselves easily registered at home avoiding any visit to ERO/AERO offices for the same.
Hirdesh Kumar mentioned about the recently concluded Special Summary Revision of Ladakh where more than twelve thousand new electors were added in the electoral roll including 595 PwDs. The health of Electoral Rolls for Ladakh UT has tremendously been improved after the culmination of Summary Revision with 0.60 EP ratio, EPIC percentage as 94.22 %, 100% PER and 987 gender ratio. As for the J&K UT, he intimated that more than 1.5 lakh new eligible voters were added during the continuous updation of Electoral Rolls since last Special Summary Revision w.r.t 01-01-2019 as qualifying date.During the function, Chief Electoral Officer felicitated PwD Icon, Election Department of J&K, Chandeep Singh and other PwD participants. The inmates of Blind Home Roop Nagar, Nari Niketan Home, R.S Pura and Physically challenged Home Udheywala Jammu participated in the programme through virtual mode.Vote of thanks was presented by Additional Secretary, CEO Office, J&K.Pertinent to mention that Since 2011, National Voters’ Day has been celebrated on January 25th every year, all across the country to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India, i.e. 25th January, 1950 and the main purpose of the NVD celebration is to encourage, facilitate and maximise enrolment, especially for the new voters.