Students of today are the torchbearers of tomorrow's democracy: CEC Gyanesh Kumar
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar addressed the fifth regional conference on Electoral Literacy Clubs and ECI-Net in Ahmedabad. He described students as the future of the nation, emphasizing that Electoral Literacy Clubs are essential for understanding the electoral process and fostering democratic awareness. He termed the engagement of young citizens as an investment in the future of democracy and highlighted the importance of their participation in India's election system.
The Election Commission of India organized its fifth regional conference on 'Electoral Literacy Clubs and ECI-Net' in Ahmedabad. The primary objective of the event was to strengthen the understanding of the electoral process and democratic awareness among young citizens. Addressing the gathering, Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar referred to students as the future of the nation and the 'torchbearers of tomorrow'.
Shri Kumar stated that Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELCs) across India would help strengthen the foundation of the world's largest democracy. He emphasized that involving young citizens in the electoral process and gaining their trust is a vital investment in the future of democracy. Similar conferences have previously been held in Patna, Lucknow, Chennai, and Madgaon.
The CEC stressed the need for students to be aware of India's election system, democratic values, voter registration, voting, and counting processes. He clarified that elections in India are conducted transparently, strictly in accordance with the Constitution and the Commission's instructions, with the participation of political parties and candidates.
Under the 'ELC 2.0' initiative, the message 'Learn Democracy, Lead Democracy' has been promoted. This initiative encourages young and first-time voters through digitally enabled platforms in schools, colleges, and universities. By leveraging the ECI-Net digital platform, this initiative will carry out electoral awareness activities throughout the year.
This initiative is significant given India's vast educational ecosystem. The country has approximately 250 million students and over 10 million teachers, connected through 1.5 million schools and 1,500 universities. Using this extensive network, ELC 2.0 aims to turn young citizens into ambassadors of informed democratic participation.
During the conference, the CEC also interacted with over 500 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) from Gujarat. He commended the BLOs for the successful execution of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in the state.
At the end of the program, students and BLOs participated in a question-and-answer session with the CEC. During this time, the BLOs had the opportunity to directly address their queries, which further clarified their role in the electoral process.