Chizokho Vero
Kohima | January 25
The attendees of 8th National Voters’ Day (NVD) held across 50 locations in Nagaland today took a pledge to uphold democratic traditions of the country, and the dignity of free, fair and peaceful elections, and to vote in every election fearlessly and without being influenced by considerations of religion, race, caste, community, language or any inducement.
This 8th National Voters’ Day was an added significant in the state in a wake of the announcement of general election for the state of Nagaland by Election Commission of India (ECI) on February 27.
In Kohima, apart from speeches, the observance of the day witnessed launching of SVEEP anthem on clean election, presentation of EPICs and NVD badges to new and millennium voters, screening of ECI’s message, presentation of awards on various competitions as well as recognition of commendable services rendered by BLOs and ambassadors on electoral process.
Vote responsibly
Nagaland’s chief secretary Panaj Kumar in his address called upon the people of Nagaland to exercise their franchise in a responsible manner.
He said s a citizen of India, everyone should take pledge to exercise ‘Right to vote’ and ‘Vote responsibly.’ He also stressed on the need to elect the right people to get the right development.
He maintained that Nagaland have made progress in cleansing bogus voters to great extent as compared with the previous elections.
He also urged upon the gathering to ensure free and fair election. Good governance is linked to how we vote, he stated and encouraged the people specially the youth to actively participate in the electoral process.
Stand for ethical, informed voting
Nagaland’s Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Abhijit Sinha called upon the voters to vote in a very ethical and informed way, adding that there should be inducement free.
“Let us all stand for ethical and informed voting,” Sinha said.
He made a fervent appeal to all concerned for greater participation as well as qualitative participation in electoral process in terms of ethical and informed voting for a stronger democracy.
Voters with disabilities eyes ‘Accessible Elections’
Disability rights activist Diethono Nakhro said voters with disabilities are looking forward to the first accessible elections in Nagaland.
Speaking on behalf of People with Disabilities (PWDs), she said the theme for this year’s observation of NVD ‘Accessible Elections’ was especially significant for the disability community and particularly important right now given the fact that the state is now in the middle electoral process.
“For too long voters with disability have been ignored and marginalised. For too long there has been no attempt to engage disabled voters by the election machinery and the politicians alike, which is of course only part of a larger picture of inequality that People with Disabilities face here in the State and all over the country as a whole,” she said. She thanked CEO and his team for making the participation PWDs an important part of the electoral process in Nagaland.
“Ensuring that persons with disabilities have equal access to registration is key to combat disability discrimination inside and outside the voting booth,” she said.
She also requested CEO to issue directives to the political parties to comply with disability and accessibility laws in their campaigns.
Vision for a clean election
Sharing vision for a clean election, Sievituo Solo said “My only request and only dream of clean election is even if the elections comes and goes away I want the people to stay united. I don’t want the politics to divide over community.” He said with the clean election it should be clean pocket this time.
Solo also hoped that in the future “we will complaint less and work more and we will see development in the state.
‘Let us boycott selling of vote’
Reigning Miss Nagaland and state icon Marina Kiho said “Let us boycott selling of vote. Let us say no to money.” She said that money is a short time pleasure and called upon the youth to choice a candidate who can lead Nagaland into a better future.
Kiho said there is no greater power than the power of the voter. “Your vote and my vote will decide our future for a better Nagaland.”
She also encouraged everyone to actively participate in the upcoming elections and cast their vote and at the same time pray for free and fair election for better Nagaland.
Kiho maintained that a voter participation in any democratic or electoral process is very important for the success of any democratic country.
