15th National Voters’ Day: President says increased women participation in elections, a sign of national and societal progress

New Delhi

BY | Saturday, 25 January, 2025

Addressing the national level celebration of the 15th National Voters’ Day in New Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu stated that the increasing participation of women in the election process is a sign of societal and national progress.

The President said that it is a matter of pride that India is not just the oldest, but the largest, most diverse, youthful and inclusive democracy in the world. The President congratulated the Election Commission and the voters for enhanced participation by touching the mark of 66 percent voting consistently in the last three Lok Sabha elections.

Guest of Honour, Union Minister of State for Law & Justice (Independent Charge), Arjun Ram Meghwal said that in the last 75 year journey, the Election Commission of India has strengthened democracy by instilling trust in the people. He appreciated the initiatives of ECI such as home voting, empowering third gender voters to vote, introducing Braille voter ID and ramps at polling stations and said they are heartening efforts towards making the election processes easy and all inclusive. He said that the historic milestone of 100 crore registered electors will be an unprecedented achievement of Indian democracy.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, in his address praised the sagacity and intelligence of Indian voters and affirmed that they remain the ultimate custodians of the nation’s democracy. Commending the dedication of election officials for their tireless efforts in the conduct of transparent elections with active involvement from political parties and media, CEC Kumar expressed confidence that India’s democracy would remain resilient, safeguarding it from any attempts to undermine it. He also urged citizens, particularly the youth and urban voters, to actively participate in shaping the nation’s future through the electoral process.

CEC Rajiv Kumar presented the first copy of the ECI Coffee Table Book titled “India Votes 2024: A Saga of Democracy” to the President. This publication offers readers a glimpse into India’s democratic journey during the Lok Sabha Elections 2024, showcasing vivid visuals and compelling narratives.

Furthermore, a copy of the ECI publication, “Belief in the Ballot: Human Stories Shaping India’s 2024 Elections” was also presented to the President by CEC Rajiv Kumar. This book features a thoughtfully curated collection of human-interest stories that highlight the uniqueness of these elections.

A promo of the docu-drama series titled “India Decides” produced by Warners Bros Discovery was also unveiled. The three-part series dives deep into the history and making of the largest elections in the world. The docu-drama series will be released on the discovery channel and its OTT platforms.

During the event, the President conferred the Best Electoral Practices Awards to 22 recipients, celebrating their outstanding contributions to election management, security management, voter education, and inclusivity. The awards recognize exceptional contributions across multiple categories in election management for the 2024 Lok Sabha and state assembly elections held in 2024.

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