SHILLONG: Additional Chief Secretary P.S. Thangkhiew has observed that the number of people who have enrolled for electoral registration has increased while allaying fears over enrolment of doubtful citizens.
In his speech as the chief guest at the 8th National Voter’s Day, themed “Accessible Elections” by the EC and observed with the aim of encouraging both abled and differently-abled youth to register for electoral enrolment at Fire Brigade ground on Thursday, Thangkhiew observed that the increased figure of 18,31,000-odd voters in the state has been reached at “with all the precautions, procedures and processes” and “is much sanitised with no doubtful citizens enrolled.”
He recalled the time he served as Chief Electoral Officer from 2000 to 2005 when the electoral base of the state was slightly more than 12 lakhs whereas it has currently reached 18 lakhs in a span of 12 years.
Stating that 3,683 differently-abled voters should be given the right to exercise their franchise, Thangkhiew said: “Access should be given to the 3000-plus voters to vote wherever they are, whether they are in Baghmara or Maheshkhola. The polling stations should be equipped with necessary facilities to make them cast their votes.”
The Additional Chief Secretary added that the point is to make it easier for differently-abled voters to exercise their franchise in order to empower them.
Impressed with the musical prowess of visually impaired musicians of the band Light after Dark, Thangkhiew proposed that the band should be hired for functions and be given a good remuneration for their performance.
Thangkhiew also unveiled paintings by Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and released Braille SVEEP materials, EVM/VVPAT animation and the national records of the Limca Book of Records.
The state election department has made its way to the Limca Book of Records for the human logo formation comprising 2,870 youths from 113 schools and 3 colleges in a single venue. The department also felicitated two visually impaired footballers – Klingson D. Marak and Gabriel Nongrum – both members of the Indian Blind Football Team.
On the occasion, Millennium Voters, those born on January 1, 2000 and have attained the age of 18 on the first day of this year, were distributed EPIC cards. Prizes were also distributed to the winners of Democracy Run 2018.
