Sri Vijaya Puram, Jan 25: National Voters’ Day was observed today with great enthusiasm through a UT-Level Padyatra and voter awareness programme organised by MY Bharat, Sri Vijaya Puram, with the objective of promoting voter awareness, ethical electoral participation and inclusion of first-time voters.
The programme was graced by Hon’ble Shri Bishnu Pada Ray, Member of Parliament, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, as the Chief Guest. Shri L. Kumar, Chief Election Officer, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, attended as Special Guest and administered the Voters’ Pledge in English, while Shri Swamy Siddha Nanda Swarasti, President, Chinmaya Mission, attended as Guest of Honour and administered the Voters’ Pledge in Hindi.
Around 400 youth volunteers from MY Bharat and the Department of Sports Authority of India (SAI), along with students from Jawaharlal Nehru Rajakiya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM), Tagore Government College of Education (TGCE), ANCOL, DBRAIT and Andaman Law College, participated in the programme, reflecting strong youth engagement in strengthening democracy.
Shri Harish Kumar, Youth Icon, led the Padyatra and motivated young participants to register as voters and exercise their franchise responsibly. The rally carried strong messages on the importance of voting in a democracy under the theme #MyBharatMyVote.
The Chief Guest and other dignitaries were accorded a warm welcome. Shri Sukha Ranjan Biswas, Joint Director, MY Bharat, Sri Vijaya Puram, welcomed all guests and participants and briefed the gathering about the aims and objectives of the programme, emphasizing that voting is both a constitutional right and a sacred duty of every citizen.
During the programme, the Chief Guest and other dignitaries felicitated all first-time voters with flowers and sweets. Divyang voters and senior citizens were also felicitated, including Shri Gorakhnath Patil, an elderly citizen, as a mark of respect and recognition. In his address, the Chief Guest highlighted the power of a single vote in strengthening democracy and urged citizens, particularly youth, to vote responsibly, ethically and without fear.
Dr. P. V. N. Sarma, Principal, Andaman Law College, also addressed the gathering and spoke on the importance of legal awareness, constitutional values and informed participation of citizens in the electoral process.
Key activities of the programme included interaction with first-time voters, felicitation of first-time voters, Divyang voters and senior citizens with flowers and sweets, distribution of T-shirts and placards, slogan recitation and slogan competition through placards, administration of the voters’ pledge in Hindi and English, addresses by dignitaries and the flag-off of the Padyatra.
The Padyatra commenced from Falg point and passed through Girls School Junction, Netaji Stadium culminating at Cellular Jail (Veer Savarkar Park), spreading the message of ethical and inclusive voting across the city.