National Voters' Day observed across Assam

CORRESPONDENTS

TEZPUR: The 11th National Voters' Day was observed on Monday at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner's office. Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer ManvendraPratap Singh presided over the meeting which was attended by ADCs RohanJha, KulenSarma, ArundhatiMipun, Election Officer AshutoshDeka and other senior officials of the district administration. The DEO also administered the oath on the occasion of National Voters' Day.

Five new voters, one from each LAC, and best performing BLOs were felicitated on the occasion. In his speech, Deputy Commissioner ManvendraPratap Singh asked all new voters to participate in the polling process without fear or favour. He also spoke about the digital Electoral Photo Identity Card which has been launched by the ECI on the occasion of National Voters' Day and asked all new voters to download the digital EPIC cards. ADC KulenSarma delivered the welcome address and explained the objectives behind organizing National Voters' Day.

As per instruction received from Chief Electoral Office, Assam flash mobs/ dance numbers were organized in colleges in all five LACs of the district to create awareness about voting rights and electoral participation. All five events saw huge turnout and active participation of students of these colleges.

BARPETA: Along with the rest of the country, in Barpeta also National Voters' Day was observed with a day-long provramme organized by Barpeta district administration.

In the morning, a bicycle rally was taken out from the Barpeta district library premises. It was led by the Deputy Commissioner of Barpeta, MunindraSarma. The rally passed through the main roads of the town. In this rally, the Superintendent of Police of Barpeta, Dr Robin Kumar, ADC NabajitPathak and other officials, students along with the members of Barpeta Press Club also took part.

A song was also composed by Nirmal Das which was sung by Koushik Das. An audio drama was also released on the occasion. Deputy Commissioner MunindraSarma said that in a democratic country, right to vote was the basic right. "Voting is the most precious right to every citizen," he said. Felicitating 10 new voters, the Deputy Commissioner said that youths who were 18 years and above, could register their names in the electoral rolls. A drawing competition was also held.

BISWANATH CHARIALI: National Voters' Day was celebrated on Monday in Biswanath district along with the rest of the country at the Biswanath Officers' Club with the initiative of Biswanath District Election office. Biswanath's popular singer Nahid Afrin was present as the District Icon at the meeting presided over by Biswanath district Deputy Commissioner Pranab Kumar Sharma. In her speech, the District Icon called upon all the youths to exercise their voting right. She also called upon the people to exercise their voting right in the interest of strengthening the democratic system. Additional Deputy Commissioners Miftahuddin Ahmed and Dr. Surya Kamal Bara and Assistant Commissioner and Acting Public Relations Officer, TrilinaTaidwere present on the occasion. At the event, all the new voters were given certificates.

BAKSA: On the occasion of National Voters' Day, a grand bicycle rally was taken out inMushalpur on Monday morning. The rally, which started from Mushalpur Higher Secondary School, was flagged off by Deputy Commissioner of Baksa, Ranjan Sharma. More than 1,000 students along with government officials took part in the rally. The rally was organized to great awareness amongst young voters regarding the electoral system and to strengthen the democratic system of the country. Later, a meeting was also held in Mushalpur Higher Secondary School auditorium under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Ranjan Sharma.

Deputy Commissioner Sharma appealed to students for active participation in the democratic process of the country by exercising their voting rights. "Today's students are the future of the nation," he said. Additional Deputy Commissioner SadhanSarkar and other dignitaries were present in the meeting.

BILASIPARA: National Voters' Day was observed at Dr. BhupenHazarika's Hall, Bilasipara College, Bilasipara on Monday. Initially a cycle rally was taken out where school students participated carrying placards, stated a press release. The meeting was presided over by the Election Officer of Bilasipara, Jagadish Brahma. Staff of the Election Office, senior citizens and the students of Bilasipara College attended the programme. The theme of the programme was to make the voters vigilant, safe and informed. The students were then given oath of participating in the voting process through equality and non-discriminatory thought process. Performance of Lokgeets and an open quiz competition was also held on various questions regarding election and voting rights where all the students participated enthusiastically.

BONGAIGAON: Together with other parts of the country, Chirang district on Monday celebrated the 11th National Voters' Day under the Election Commission of India's theme 'Making our voters empowered, vigilant, Safe and Informed' with day-long programme. On the occasion, to encourage the new voters and to increase the participation of voters, a half marathon race was organized here at district headquarter in the morning. Police personnel, sports persons and students of different colleges participated in the programme. A quiz competition involving students, especially the new or first time voters, was also organized at Bengtal Higher Secondary School. Inaugurating the quiz competition, Election Officer of Chirang, ParthaPratimBaruah explained about the significance of voters' day and the importance of participation of all people in the electoral process our country to strengthen its democratic process. He appealed to all eligible 18 years plus youths to register their names in the electoral rolls.

HAILAKANDI: National Voters' Day was observed in a befitting manner here on Monday. At a function organised by the Hailakandi Election District at SS College auditorium, Deputy Commissioner cum District Election Officer, MeghNidhiDahal urged the new voters to cast their votes and to motivate others too to make the democratic edifice of the country resilient and vibrant. Dahal said a true patriot is one who upholds and respects India's democratic ideals and participates in the democratic process by exercising their franchise.

Explaining the significance of the day observed since 2011, Dahal said the new voters must not consider the voter identity card as a document alone but come out in large numbers to assert the greatest democratic right given by the Constitution. "Assert the greatest right given to you by the Constitution as a citizen of the country which everyone does not get. As citizens of the country on whose shoulders the future of the country hinges, you will have to take it forward," he quipped.

Speaking on the occasion, Superintendent of Police, Pabindra Kumar Nath urged the youth to consider it as sacred duty to exercise their franchise and to take the country to the pinnacle of glory. Nath said the inherent beauty and strength of our democracy is that every citizen can become a Prime Minister or Chief Minister and urged the new voters to play a pivotal role to further strengthen the foundation of democracy by ensuring cent per cent participation in the electoral process. "Your sole mantra should be we will vote and inspire others to vote too," he added.

LAKHIMPUR,:The 11th National Voters' Day was observed in Lakhimpur Commerce College in North Lakhimpur with a call to the younger voters to be more aware, empowered, vigilant and informative on polling matters. On this occasion, a meeting was organized at the college auditorium which was chaired by Principal Gopal Kumar Chetry. The objective of the meeting was explained by Professor Aban Chandra Barman of the Political Science department.

The Head of the Department of English and eminent columnist professor SazzadHussain attended the meeting as the appointed speaker. In his address, professor Hussain spoke in details about the theme of this year's voters' day. He appealed to the students, who were going to be first time voters, to avail this sacred democratic right bestowed by the Constitution of India without the influence of any threat and intimidation, lure or obstruction. Vice-Principal of the college, Professor Mahesh Chandra Bhagawati also spoke about the significance of the day.

Later, the Principal of the college administered the oath-taking ceremony with the students and teachers and ministerial staff of the college. The meeting was attended by senior teachers like Dr. GuninSarma, Dr. SikhamoniBorgohain, Dr. Lima Baruah, and others, along with the Head Assistant of the college, Jagat Chandra Dutta and the secretary of students' union, Farhanul Amin.

DEMOW: The 11th National Voters' Day was organized in Demow College for Thowra LAC on Monday. Under the patronage of Sonapur Social Development Society, and in association with District Election Officer and Demow Revenue Circle Officer, the 11th National Voters' Day was organized in Demow College on Monday. The programme was inaugurated by IndicaGogoi, Demow Circle Officer. The members of Sonapur Social Development Society, an NGO, performed a one-act play on casting votes in the Demow College premises on Monday. A dance was also performed by the members of Sonapur Social Development Society. In the programme, IndicaGogoi, Demow Circle Officer, Principal, professors, entire staff and students of Demow College and members of Sonapur Social Development Society were present.

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