�National Voters� Day Reaffirms Power of People�-Shri Pranab Mukherjee

President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee said that National Voters Day re-affirms the power of the people to determine their own destiny by exercising the freedom to elect their own representatives. Congratulating Election Commission of India for successfully celebrating NVD since its inception, here today, Shri Mukherjee said that the commission has done outstanding work in spreading awareness about the importance of vote in democratic set-up in far reaching corners of the country.

Chief Election Commissioner Dr. Nasim Zaidi released the book titled, �Belief in the Ballot’ and presented the first copy to the President at the event. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Nasim Zaidi said that National Voters Day is dedicated to the power of the people. He added that enthusiastic participation of people in the electoral process is the key to healthy democracy. Dr. Zaidi stated that Commission has always strived hard to achieve the very best of election management.

Shri Pranab Mukherjee gave away Awards for Best Electoral Practices to Chief Electoral Officers, District Electoral Officers, SPs, Officers involved in election management. Awards were also given to Media Houses and Civil Society Organisations for best campaign in Voters’ Education and Awareness. Award for Excellence was received by State of Bihar for a series of innovative measures for voter awareness, purification of rolls, security management, and efficient use of technology for grievance redressal and voter facilitation resulting in increased turnout during State Assembly Election 2015.

This year a new Award has been introduced to recognise the contribution of Government department/ Agencies to the efforts of ECI for enhancing electoral participation. Six newly eligible electors would be given their EPICs by President of India. The theme for the 6th National Voters’ Day is ‘Inclusive and Qualitative Participation’.

After the completion of the NVD National function, the Commission inaugurated the construction of India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) campus at sector-22Dwarka, New Delhi. Election Commissioners Shri Om Prakash Rawat, Shri Achal Kumar Jyoti and several other dignitaries and representatives of various countries have participated in the event.

25th January is also the foundation day of the Commission, which came into being on this day in 1950. The Commission’s objective through NVD is to increase enrolment of voters, especially of the newly eligible ones. The National Voters’ Day is also utilised to spread awareness among voters regarding effective participation in the electoral process. National Voters’ Day celebrations will be organised in all polling station locations across the country. State level function is organised by the Chief Electoral Officers of the State concerned.

Election Commission of India will be presenting a Tableau with the theme ‘Inclusive and Qualitative Participation’ at the Republic Day parade on 26th January at Rajpath, New Delhi.