Daijiworld Media Network - Patna
Patna, Aug 17: Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar on Monday launched Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELC 2.0), stressing the need to familiarise students and young voters with India's electoral system, democratic values and the functioning of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
Speaking at a conference on “Electoral Literacy Clubs and ECINet” at Gyan Bhawan in Patna, Kumar said educational institutions can play a significant role in strengthening public trust in electoral processes, improving electoral literacy and encouraging informed democratic participation.
The CEC said elections in India are conducted strictly in accordance with the Constitution, laws and instructions issued by the ECI and are carried out transparently under the concurrent scrutiny of political parties, candidates and their representatives at every stage.
He stressed the importance of familiarising students and young electors with electoral registration, polling and counting procedures, democratic values and the role and functioning of the ECI.
Emphasising the need to engage young citizens, Kumar said their trust in and informed participation in the electoral process represents an investment in the future of democracy.
A new logo for the Electoral Literacy Club was unveiled during the programme. The initiative has also adopted the tagline, “Learn Democracy. Lead Democracy”, reflecting its objective of encouraging young and first-time voters not only to understand democracy but also to participate meaningfully in the electoral process and contribute to its progress, an official statement said.
Earlier, Kumar held a meeting with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) at the Rajgir International Convention Centre in Nalanda.
During his two-day visit to Bihar on August 16 and 17, the CEC also undertook field visits in Madhubani, Vaishali and Nalanda.
ELC 2.0 seeks to transform Electoral Literacy Clubs into structured, visible and digitally enabled platforms across schools, colleges and universities. The initiative envisages continuous, year-round activities aimed at promoting electoral literacy among young citizens and spreading electoral awareness within their families, educational institutions and communities.
The revamped clubs will leverage the ECINet digital platform, which provides election-related services covering the process from electoral rolls to polling. A streamlined nationwide network of Electoral Literacy Clubs will be developed through a dedicated ELC portal on ECINet, the statement said.
The initiative assumes significance given India's vast educational ecosystem, comprising approximately 15 lakh schools with nearly 25 crore students and more than one crore teachers.
The higher education sector includes nearly 1,500 universities and around 70,000 educational institutions, with an estimated enrolment of 4.33 crore students, according to the statement.