Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network-Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Jan 26: Udupi district administration and electoral officers jointly observed ‘National Voters' Day’ to commemorate the foundation day of the Election Commission of India (ECI) at Ravindra Mantapa in MGM College here on Thursday, January 25.
Udupi chief district and session court judge and district legal services authority president Venkatesh Naik T Udupi inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp.
In his address, he said, “Free and fearless elections are features of a healthy democracy. It further increases the prestige and value of the nation. Sovereignty is in the hands of people in democracy. Selecting an eligible representative for administration in the government is the right of citizens by casting their vote. The intension of democracy is that accepting the vote of the citizens and providing good administration through the government. The anti-people government can be dismissed by the voters. Election has the power to establish the government and dismiss the incompetent government. In democracy, public has the right to indirectly intervene in the administration.”
“Not casting vote is a crime in country like Australia. It is mandatory for them. If anybody does not vote in India, the election commission has the right to impose penalty. But here in India, we believe in creating awareness about the importance of this exercise rather than imposing penalty. Making people understand and create awareness among people is the first priority. But these days, educated youngsters are not taking part in voting. It is a matter of great tragedy. In this regard, it is necessary to raise awareness about voting.”
“Forming a good government in democratic country is in the hands of youth. Casting vote to the right candidate is the responsibility of all,” he added.
Session court Judge Venkatesh briefed about election code of conduct during the programme.
He said, “The electoral commission has decided that the millennium voters will the ambassadors of the election process. They were born in January 2000. For them, the special voter’s card was distributed this day across the country. A conscious voter is the life of any republic nation.”
Deputy commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis said, “A good government can be formed only when everybody casts the vote compulsorily. If anybody wants to enter the administration, he can come only through election. In this regard, the Election Commission is trying to provide special facilities for the physically challenged and other special persons under the motto 'Easy Election’ by providing wheelchairs and ramps for all sections of the people to help them with voting and brail script for visual-challenged.”
“Qualified voters are included in the voter lists and the names of the demised have been dropped. The name of the permanent resident abroad has been dropped. New VVPAT is used in voting machines to authenticate voting. The students should not get false information through social media regarding this,” she said.
District superintendent of police Lakshman Nimbargi administered the oath on the occasion.
The certificates were given to eight millennium voters on the occasion. The prizes were distributed to winners of the competitions like speech, essay writing, collage making and poster making which were organized as part of the National Voter's Day.
ADC Anuradha G, zilla panchayat CEO Shivanand Kapashi, Udupi Tahsildar Pradeep Hurdekar, session court judge, Latha, senior judge and legal service authority and MGM College principal Sandhya were present.