Itanagar: The State Election Commission of Arunachal Pradesh, for the first time, conferred the ‘State Democracy Awards’ on individuals and organisations on the occasion of International Day of Democracy in a function at the Dorjee Khandu Convention Centre here today.
The event coincided with the completion of two decades of State Election Commission.
Gracing the occasion, State Governor Brig (Retd) Dr B D Mishra said that the International Day of Democracy aims to promote the Government’s role in maintaining open democracy among the member nations of the UN charter. Referring to Article 21 (3) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, he said that the elections, by universal suffrage, free, fair and secret voting are the foundations of democracy.
He reminded the people to make the world’s largest democracy more strong and stable by promoting the democratic values – justice, liberty, equality and dignity of individuals. Equally important, he said, is to abide by the Fundamental Duties as enshrined in the Constitution of India.
Recalling the Gandhian ideal of Gram Swaraj, the Governor said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a practical and definite shape to Gram Swaraj by ‘Atma Nirbhar’ movement, which encompasses ‘Start up’ and ‘Self-dependence’.
While complimenting the SEC for conducting ‘free, fair and transparent elections to the local and urban bodies in 2020 despite all odds, the Governor called for strict compliance of seven principles by the Govt officials viz. transparency, accountability, probity, promptness, equal dispensation, audit and mid-course correction when and where so ever needed. He also emphasised the importance of all-around public consciousness and a sense of democratic responsibility.
State Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and Home & Panchayati Raj Minister Bamang Felix also spoke on the occasion. State Election Commissioner Hage Kojeen, IAS (Retd) delivered the welcome address.
Earlier, the Governor presented the ‘State Democracy Awards’. Longding district received the ‘best performing district’ award, while Nafra sub-division of West Kameng district was adjudged the ‘best performing sub-division.
The Governor’s wife Neelam Misra gave away the cash prizes to the winners of online painting and essay writing competitions, which were organised to commemorate the two decades of State Election Commission.
A commemorative compendium titled ‘Two Decades of State Election Commission’ along with its software disk was also released on the occasion.
The students and faculty of the Department of Fine Arts and Music, Rajiv Gandhi University presented cultural items on the occasion.
A large number of elected representatives of State Legislative Assembly, Panchayati Raj institutions and Itanagar and Pasighat Municipalities, senior Govt officials and others attended the programme.
