District Election Officer (DEO) Poonch, Vikas Kundal declared the Inter-District Division Level Under -19 Girls Football Tournament open here on the Sports Stadium, today. The tournament is being held under the banner of the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) initiative, aiming to raise voter awareness, especially among first-time women voters, in the lead-up to the upcoming Assembly elections.
The teams from four districts of Jammu Division—Kathua, Jammu, Samba, and Poonch participated in the competition. Moolraj Uttam, District Youth and Sports Officer, welcomed the participants and introduced the teams to the audience. The DEO interacted with the players, urging them to not only participate in the electoral process but also to act as advocates for democracy by encouraging others to vote.
The tournament seeks to cultivate a sense of civic responsibility among the players, especially those voting for the first time, through sports and community engagement. In his address, DEO Poonch highlighted the significance of the event, both as a showcase of athletic talent and as a platform to encourage greater electoral participation among young women.
"Empowering women through both sports and the electoral process is crucial for a vibrant and healthy democracy. These young athletes are not only demonstrating their skills on the field but also learning about their essential role in shaping the country’s future by voting," said DEO Kundal.
In the opening match of the tournament, Kathua's team triumphed over Jammu with a 3-1 victory, setting an exciting tone for the competition ahead.