Permanent Representatives to UN from 11 countries visit ECI

Speed Post News Network

New Delhi : A delegation of Permanent Representatives to the United Nations from eleven    countries: Cabo Verde, St Vincent & Grenada, Togo, Moldova, Gambia, Burkina Faso, Tonga, Samoa, Micronesia, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu visited the Election Commission of India. The delegation is visiting India from February 4 to February 10, 2018, under the sponsorship of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. The delegation met the Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat, Election Commissioners Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavasa.

Chief Election Commissioner of India O P Rawat, in his address,  mentioned that strong participatory and inclusive democracies are necessary to ensure good governance and empowerment of all its citizens.  He gave an overview of the election process in India and briefed the visiting delegates about the innovations and initiatives introduced by the ECI in managing the elections. Rawat mentioned that ECI has been transforming its processes and making regular changes in the election management to meet and align with the emerging challenges.

Referring to the ECI’s initiative ‘No Voter to Be Left Behind’ with a view to optimise the enrolment of voters, he briefed the delegates about this year’s theme ‘Accessible Elections’ and the International Conference on ‘Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in the Election Process’ hosted by the ECI on January 24, 2018.

Sunil Arora, Election Commissioner, referred to the far-sightedness of the members of the Constituent Assembly of India as reflected in the Preamble of the Constitution of India. He stated that that their vision was translated into reality when Election Commission of India was established under Article 324 of the Constitution of India. He briefed the visiting delegates about the innovations and initiatives introduced by the ECI in managing the elections including the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and the introduction of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) as well as other IT-enabled services in the election management.

Ashok Lavasa, Election Commissioner, in his address stated that the one of the most important development of the century is the evolution of the United Nations system, which provides a platform for various nation states to share issues of common concern in the world and come to a common understanding on important issues.  Democracy has now emerged as the best means to the public for an equitable participation in the political process and it is finding its place in different countries.

A short film on Parliamentary Election-2014 was also screened for the delegation. This was followed by a Question and Answer session wherein queries from the delegates relating to gender equality, appointment of CEC/EC, voting by Indian diaspora etc. were answered, according to a PIB release.