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| ECI launches digital voter cards, unique web radio, Nation celebrates 11th National Voters’ Day |
NEW DELHI (Lampe):- 11th National Voters’ Day was celebrated across the country today on January 25, 2021, with the President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind gracing the national level event held at New Delhi in a virtual, online mode. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Union Minister for Law & Justice, Communications and Electronics and Information Technology graced the event as the Guest of Honour. The Chief Election Commissioner Shri Sunil Arora, Election Commissioners Shri Sushil Chandra, Shri Rajiv Kumar, and Secretary-General Shri Umesh Sinha received the dignitaries on the occasion. This year, due to COVID-19, the NVD celebrations all over the country would be a combination of both physical and virtual events.
The
theme for NVD 2021 is ‘Making Our Voters Empowered, Vigilant, Safe and Informed.’
This is a reiteration of the commitment of Election Commission of India (ECI)
to conduct COVID-safe elections, as well as to make each voter informed,
ethical and vigilant.
In his address,
President Sh. Ram Nath Kovind said that we should always respect the valuable
right to vote. The right to vote is not a simple right; people around the world
have struggled a lot for this. Since independence, our Constitution has given
equal voting rights to all citizens without any discrimination on the basis of merit,
religion, race, caste. For this, we are indebted to the makers of our
Constitution.
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The President
said that the chief architect of the Indian Constitution, Babasaheb Dr Bhimrao
Ambedkar considered the right to vote as paramount. Therefore, it is the
responsibility of all of us, especially our youth, who get the right to vote
for the first time, to exercise their franchise with the utmost sincerity and
inspire others too to do so.
Praising the
Election Commission of India for conducting successful and safe elections in
Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh last year during the COVID-19 pandemic,
the President said that it is an extraordinary achievement of our democracy. He
was happy to note that the Election Commission has taken a number of innovative
and timely measures to conduct smooth, inclusive and safe elections.
Guest of Honour, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad hailed the
profound vision of India’s founding fathers who, despite the overwhelming odds
against them, created a framework that would empower every single Indian.
Speaking about the launch of digital voter cards, he appreciated the IT efforts
of the Election Commission. He said that the officers of the Election
Commission and civil and police administrations have played a vital role in
ensuring free, fair, and peaceful election during challenging times of COVID-19.
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Chief Election Commissioner, Shri Sunil Arora reiterated
the Commission’s determination in conducting safe and secure elections, which
was lauded by democracies across the world. Shri Arora took note of how the
tireless efforts of the election machinery ensured that the facility of Postal A ballot was extended to Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens above the age
of 80 years, and those quarantined due to COVID-19; effectively ensuring that
no voter is left behind. As the Commission prepares for upcoming elections in
four States and one Union Territory in 2021, Shri Arora emphasized the
importance of the commitment towards redefining election management in a
pandemic.
In his remarks, Election Commissioner Shri Sushil Chandra
said that the 11th NVD is being celebrated with a view to enhance electoral
participation of voters especially the new voters of the country and empower
them as informed, an ethical and vigilant voter. He said elections in India are a
gigantic exercise conducted under the superintendence, direction and control of the
Commission. The exercise has its own challenges in terms of sheer scale, size,
diversity and complexity besides logistics, aiming for free, fair and
transparent elections. Timelines demand strict compliance with little room for
any delays and mistakes. That is what makes our elections sacrosanct and model
for others.
Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar welcomed the august
gathering of dignitaries and awardees to the national celebration of 11th
National Voters' Day. His remarks also highlighted the scale and vastness of
Indian elections. He said that despite the complexity of Indian elections, they
are conducted meticulously, on schedule. He especially welcomed women voters,
Persons with Disability, and Senior Citizens on the occasion.
Two unique
digital initiatives were unveiled today. The Commission is rolling out digital
voter identity cards or e-EPICs which will be downloadable on a mobile phone or
in a self-printable form on the computer, after logging in from Voter Helpline
Mobile App, Voter Portal (www.voterportal.eci.gov.in) or National Voters'
Service Portal (www.nvsp.in/).
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The Hon'ble President of India launched 'Radio Hello Voters' - a 24x7 online digital radio service that will stream voter awareness programmes accessible on the Election Commission of India website. Radio Hello Voters have been envisaged to provide information on electoral processes through songs, drama, discussions, podcasts, sports, parodies etc. in Hindi, English and different regional languages from all over the country.
Guest of Honour, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad presented five
new voters with their Digital Voter ID cards. While only newly enrolled
electors with the unique mobile number during SSR 2021 can download e-EPIC from 25th January to 31st January 2021 – this facility will
be extended to all other electors from 1st February
2021 onwards.
On
this occasion, the President virtually conferred the National Awards for
the Best Electoral Practices to Officers for their outstanding performance in
the conduct of elections in different spheres. In addition, awards were also conferred
on CSOs, Govt. Departments and Media Houses for their outstanding contribution
in the field of voter awareness and outreach. Representatives from Political
Parties also attended the national function.
Three publications were launched by Union Minister Shri
Ravi Shankar Prasad. The first book, Conducting
Elections during Pandemic- A Photo Journey encapsulates the
challenging journey of conducting elections amidst a pandemic. The second, SVEEP Endeavours: Awareness Initiatives during
Lok Sabha Election 2019provides a detailed insight into voter
awareness interventions, innovations and initiatives during the 17th General
Election, conducted in 2019. Chalo
Karen Matdaan- a comic book that aims at voter education in a fun and
thought-provoking way targeting young, new and future voters was also launched
at the event.
National Voters’ Day is celebrated all over the country on January 25 every year since 2011 to mark the Foundation day of Election Commission of India, which was established on this day in the year 1950. The main purpose of the NVD celebration is to encourage, facilitate and maximize the enrollment, especially for the new voters. Dedicated to the voters of the country, the Day is utilized to spread awareness among voters for promoting informed participation in the electoral process.
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