Early Times Report SRINAGAR, Apr 19: To encourage civic engagement by promoting voter literacy in the community, the Kashmir University (KIU), Friday held a meeting to discuss the implementation of events aimed at voter education, spreading voter awareness and promoting voter literacy under the SVEEP Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation) programme. To achieve the desired goals, the university is aiming at organising interactive sessions, debates, discussions, cultural programmes, musicals, talent hunts, nukkad (street) performances, mock voting, etc. across all its campuses, an official statement issued here read. On the occasion, KU Registrar, Prof Naseer Iqbal, who chaired the meeting, highlighted the significance of organising events and programmes for voter education and awareness for the masses in general and for the first time voters in particular, read the statement. "Such activities invite attention, educate and empower youth, especially the first time voters, about their right to contribute in building a strong democracy and to actively participate in the electoral festival," Prof Naseer said. He further said the university will remain very flexible in terms of selection of programmes for better reception and wider reach. "Greater participation and a better voter turnout is the sign of a healthy democracy," Prof Naseer added. Deans/Heads/Directors/Coordinators/Principals of respective Schools / Departments /Centres/Schemes/Institutes, Media Advisor, Public Relations Officer (PRO), Hostel Provosts (Boys and Girls), Chief Proctor, Hostel Wardens (Boys and Girls) besides officers of the administration and representatives of the line departments attended the meeting. Directors and representatives of the Satellite Campuses joined the meeting online, the statement read. All concerned contributed their insights and ideas towards the successful execution of the voter education and awareness programmes through the coming weeks. SVEEP is the flagship programme of the Election Commission of India for voter education, spreading voter awareness and promoting voter literacy in India. It is a multi-intervention programme that reaches out through different modes and media to educate citizens, electors and voters about the electoral process in order to increase their awareness and promote their informed participation, the statement added. |