12th National Voters’ Day celebrated across J&K, Ladakh

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Jan 25: Twelfth National Voters’ Day was celebrated today by various Government as well as private organizations including educational institutions across Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh by organizing series of online programmes to raise awareness among the youth about democratic electoral process.
J&K Legal Services Authority and Ladakh Legal Services Authority under the patronage of Justice Pankaj Mithal, Chief Justice, High Court of J&K and Ladakh and leadership of Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, Executive Chairman J&K Legal Service Authority (JKLSA) and Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur, Executive Chairman, Ladakh Legal Service Authority (LLSA) organized various programs at district and tehsil level to commemorate National Voters’ Day. The programs were organized as per the theme for this year’s National Voters’ Day i.e. “Making Elections Inclusive, Accessible and Participative”.
On the occasion, pledge ceremonies were held in Police establishments across Jammu and Kashmir. The main function was organized in the lawns of Police Headquarters, Jammu. ADGP Headquarters PHQ, M K Sinha administered voters pledge to the Police officers, and personnel of Police Headquarters, Armed Police Headquarters and Police Telecom Headquarters. The oath taking ceremony was attended by Director General of Police J&K Dilbag Singh, ADGP Armed J&K, SJM Gillani, IGP CIV PHQ Alok Kumar and other senior police officers. At Zonal Police Headquarters Jammu, ADGP, Jammu Zone, Mukesh Singh administered oath to the Police officers and Jawans.
To celebrate the Day, a pledge ceremony was organized in the premises of Jammu Municipal Corporation in which all the officers and officials besides eight new voters (4 each from Jammu East and Jammu West Assembly Constituencies) attended the function. The function was chaired by Pankaj Gupta, Joint Commissioner, JMC. Atul Kumar (ERO-69-Jammu West AC) Secretary, JMC drew the attention of the participants to participate in the electoral process free and fearlessly. Finally the chair, gave pledge to all the participants to uphold the democratic traditions of our country & dignity of free, fair and peaceful elections.
Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University, Rajouri celebrated National Voter’s Day by organizing an online event in which senior functionaries of the Varsity participated. The event started with an Oath taking ceremony in which everyone present took the pledge of keeping firm faith on democracy and strive for the independent, impartial and peaceful election. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Akbar Masood, Vice Chancellor BGSBU highlighted the importance of Voter’s Day.
The Day was celebrated under the aegis of the National Service Scheme of the campus of Central Sanskrit University, Kot Bhalwal. The program was presided over by Prof Prabhat Kumar Mohapatra, Acting Director of the campus. The oath was administered by him in Sanskrit to the teachers, staff and students.
IGNOU Regional Centre Srinagar celebrated the National Voters Day with all staff members, IGNOU learners and took the pledge to uphold the democratic traditions of our country and the dignity of free, fair and peaceful elections. Regional Director IGNOU Srinagar Dr Kamlesh Meena, in his speech, highlighted the importance of the Day.
An impressive seminar was organized by IRP-19th Battalion at its headquarters Kathua to create awareness regarding significance of democratic electoral participation. On the occasion, SSP Benam Tosh (Commandant of the Battalion) administered Voters’ Pledge to the officers and Jawans.
Police Technical Training Institute (PTTI) Vijaypur organized a pledge taking ceremony in the Institute to observe National Voters Day. On this occasion, all GOs/Police personnel/trainees of the Institute took pledge to uphold the democratic traditions of our country and dignity of free, fair and peaceful elections. Speaking on the occasion, Khalil Ahmed Poswal (SSP), Principal PTTI Vijaypur instructed the staff and trainees to encourage, facilitate and maximize enrolment for the new voters.
The Day was also celebrated by Dogra Degree College, Government Degree College (GDC) Mahanpur, Government Women College Parade, Government MAM College Jammu, Padma Shri Padma Sachdeva Government P G College for Women, Gandhi Nagar Jammu, GDC Bani, GDC Basohli, GDC Ramnagar, GDC Udhampur, GDC Bishnah, GDC Sunderbani, GDC Kalakote, GDC Surankote, GDC Nagrota, GDC Vijaypur, GDC Kathua, GDC Marh, GDC Thannamandi, GDC Ukhral, GDC Dudu Basantgarh and GDC Batote.
Office of the District Youth Services & Sports Officer Udhampur organized a Voters’ Day pledge under the patronage of Alok Kumar, Principal Secretary Youth Services and Sports. Around 53 staff cadets and club members took pledge to uphold the democratic tradition of our country.
Delhi Public School Udhampur (DPSU) celebrated National Voters day in collaboration with Cultural Wing, Department of Information & Public Relations Jammu and District Information Center Udhampur. A speech highlighting the importance of Voters Day for success of democracy was delivered by the Chief CCA coordinator of DPSU Rakhi Gupta.
To mark the occasion, a pledge ceremony was held by District Police Doda at all police stations, police posts and police pickets. The main function was held at District Police Lines Doda where SSP Doda Abdul Qayoom read out the contents of the pledge and all the officers and officials repeated the same after him.
On the occasion of National Voters Day, District Election Office Kargil organized a virtual pledge ceremony with all district officers at NIC. Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Kargil, Tsering Motup, Deputy District Election Officer, Nargis Banoo and other district officers were present during the virtual pledge ceremony. The ADC led the virtual pledge ceremony with the district officers of Kargil.