By The Hindu Bureau
Copyright thehindu
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Kerala Rathan U. Kelkar visited the tribal belt of Attappady in the district on Tuesday. He launched the CEO @ Unnathi – Get ready for Special Intensive Revision (SIR) project in the district.
Dr. Kelkar visited the remote hamlets of Anavai and Chindakki and interacted with the tribespeople there. He also visited the houses of Maruti, Sundaran, and Vellachi and examined their documents.
Dr. Kelkar told the tribespeople that there was no need for any concern as all their documents were genuine. He convinced them of the importance of casting their votes, and took part in Kudumbashree meetings held in the hamlets.
He also visited IHRD College at Agali, which had won the second place for the best electoral literacy club in the State, and Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Arts and Science College, Kottathara, which too had excelled in electoral literacy.
Dr. Kelkar engaged with students and cleared up their doubts about the voting process. He underscored that casting a ballot is both a fundamental right and a civic duty. Young voters should understand the importance of their participation, he said.
He suggested that such awareness classes and campaigns should be further expanded among the public. The Election Commission aims to ensure that all eligible voters are included in the electoral roll and that ineligible individuals are excluded from it, he added.
Additional Electoral Officer Sharmila C. Nair, Election Deputy Collector Sajeed, Attappady Tahsildar Shanavas Khan, election assistant P.A. Toms, and sub-inspector of Pudur Police Station Abdul Salam accompanied him.
