SHIMLA: Chief Electoral Officer,  Maneesh Garg in a ‘Old age Honour and Voter Awareness Program’ honoured the  elderly voters with  a citation duly signed by Chief Election Commissioner of India, (CEC) Rajiv Kumar,  to senior voters aged 80 plus in Chamba today.   

Besides, the CEO also felicitated 103 years old Sardar Pyar Singh with a  citation from CEC of India,  along-with himachali shawl and cap.

The CEO personally visited the house of Sardar Pyar Singh who is also district icon for the assembly elections. 

While interacting with the CEO , Singh said that he first voted in the year 1952 and since then he has never missed an opportunity to cast his vote.

He generally walks to the nearest polling booth at Hatnala Mohalla.  Sardar Pyar Singh is a retired School teacher from Government Boys School, Chamba.

“It was a unique initiative of Election Commission of India (ECI) to honour and thank the elderly voters on 1st October, 2022 i.e. ‘International Day for Older Persons’ which will inspire millions of young voters’ said Sh. Garg on this occasion.  

While speaking on the occasion, the CEO said that the contribution of elderly voters in the electoral process is very important vis-a-vis the young and prospective voters should also take inspiration from them and participate in the electoral process with full zeal and enthusiasm .

The CEO also released an election mascot bearing a tagline “Mu Bi Gaana Vote Paana” (in local dialect ‘I will also go to Vote’) under SVEEP activities for awareness of the people.

It is a SVEEP mascot, named ‘Bholu’ in traditional  Gaddi attire,  urging voters to go and cast vote. 

At the same time, he is giving the message of conservation of Brown bear which is an endangered species in Himalayas, and mostly found  in Kugti WildLife Sanctuary, Chamba.  

Earlier, Deputy Commissioner, Chamba, DC Rana  who is also the District Election Officer honoured the CEO and detailed about the SVEEP activities being run in the district for awareness of the voters.