NEWS

First-time voters urged to participate in elections

Aimed at motivating and ensuring the participation of young and first-time voters in the general elections, a one-day National awareness campaign was held at the Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni. Over 250 first-year students of BSc Horticulture and BSc Forestry, mainly first-time voters, attended this event.

The event was organized by the Shimla Chapter of the Public Relations Society of India (PRSI) as part of their nationwide effort in collaboration with the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) of the Election Commission of India. The event focused on raising awareness about voter rights and the importance of electoral participation in a democracy.

Dr Ranvir Verma, Chairman of the Shimla Chapter of PRSI welcomed the guests and informed them that the society was a national association of PR practitioners established in 1958 to promote the recognition of public relations as a profession and to formulate and interpret to the public the objectives and the potentialities of public relations as a strategic management function. He informed that the PRISI had been at the forefront of organizing social activities throughout the country. He added that India being the largest democracy in the world, PRSI has been conducting nationwide activities to create awareness about the importance of each vote.  

Speaking on the occasion, Additional Commissioner MC Solan and District Nodal Officer of SVEEP Dr Priyanka Chandra exhorted the first-time voters to understand the importance of their votes and how their active participation helps to make the democracy stronger. She emphasized the fundamental role each citizen plays in shaping the nation’s future through democratic practices.

SDM Solan Poonam Bansal shed light on the different mediums through which new voters could register themselves and how the voters could remain vigilant. She also informed me about the facilities given by the ECI to facilitate the participation of differently-abled voters above the age of 85. She also explained about the Voter Helpline app, Electronic Voting Machine, and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail to first-time voters.  Jagdish Singh Negi, Deputy Director of Higher Education also stressed increasing awareness about elections.

Dr Manish Sharma, Dean College of Horticulture thanked the team of PRSI and SVEEP for raising awareness on the important topic of elections and voting. He said that the university has been regularly motivating the students on different issues to ensure maximum turnout in the upcoming elections.  Dr BS Panwar delivered the vote of thanks. Librarian Dr. KK Raina, PRSI National Council members -Yadvinder Singh Chauhan and Ashok Sharma, Dr TD Verma, PD Bhardwaj, Yashpal Kapoor, nodal officers, faculty, and staff also took part in the event. 

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