Murmu lauds rise in number of women coming out to vote

Murmu lauds rise in number of women coming out to vote

It is an important sign of the overall development of Indian society, says President; she commends the Election Commission for its efforts to make the process of voting inclusive and accessible to all.

President Droupadi Murmu on Saturday said the increasing participation of women in elections was an important sign of the overall development of Indian society.

India’s democracy is a unique example for the modern world, she said, noting that many countries were taking lessons from its election system and management. “It is a matter of pride for all of us that our democracy is not only the oldest in the world but is also the largest, diverse, young, inclusive and sensitive democracy in the world,” Ms. Murmu said in her address at an event to mark the 15th National Voters’ Day here.

She said that the Election Commission was making special efforts to facilitate the voting process for senior voters above 85 years of age, voters with disabilities and tribal voters living in remote areas, thus setting a good example of inclusive and sensitive election management.

In a separate message on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said National Voters’ Day was about celebrating India’s vibrant democracy and empowering every citizen to exercise their right to vote.

Instilling trust

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said that in its 75-year journey, the Election Commission had strengthened democracy by instilling trust in the people. He appreciated the initiatives of the poll body such as home voting, empowering third gender voters to vote, introducing Braille voter ID and ramps at polling stations.

He added that the historic milestone of 100 crore registered electors would be an unprecedented achievement of Indian democracy.

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, in his address, said that “disruptive campaigning” and “fake narratives” might cause disillusionment among youngsters regarding the electoral process and requested political parties to avoid such activities.

Mr. Kumar assured political parties that the poll body would respond in writing to concerns flagged by them on the electoral process. His remarks came on a day that the Congress attacked the commission saying its functioning had made a “mockery” of the Constitution and insulted voters.

Ms. Murmu conferred the Best Electoral Practices Awards on 22 recipients, celebrating their outstanding contributions to election management, security management, voter education, and inclusivity. The awards recognise exceptional contributions across multiple categories in election management for the Lok Sabha and State Assembly elections held in 2024.

The Best Performing State Award was given to the Chief Election Officers of Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, and Maharashtra.