District Election Officer Poonch, Vikas Kundal today visited Dina Nath Rafiq Memorial Model Government Higher Secondary School Girls Poonch (Sheesh Mahal) as part of his continued efforts to enhance electoral awareness among the youth. This visit is part of the broader Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) initiative, which aims to cultivate a culture of informed and active voting among young and first-time voters.
During his visit, the DEO engaged with the students and emphasized the importance of understanding and participating in the electoral process especially for first-time voters. He also inspected the school's election-related facilities to assess the security measures and logistics in place for the upcoming elections.
A key part of his visit focused on first-time voters underlining their role in shaping the democratic future of the nation. The Principal of the school expressed her appreciation for the visit noting the ongoing efforts by the school’s Electoral Literacy Club (ELC) to educate students on electoral processes.
The ELC has been actively organizing workshops and interactive sessions to familiarize students with the election system. Accompanied by the Additional Deputy Commissioner, Chief Education Officer and Chief Agriculture Officer, the DEO participated in the "My Vote, My Right" signature campaign launched by the school, reaffirming his commitment to maximizing voter turnout.
He lauded the school administration and the ELC for their efforts in promoting informed voting and reiterated the district administration’s dedication to ensure free, fair and transparent elections. The visit concluded with DEO Poonch encouraging students to actively participate in the democratic process reminding them of the crucial role their votes play in shaping the future of the country.
His visit underscores the ongoing efforts in the region to strengthen electoral literacy and civic engagement among the youth.