President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday presented national awards to state and district level officials for their outstanding performance in the conduct of elections during 2022 at a function organised here as part of the 13th National Voters’ Day celebrations.

The national awards were presented to important stakeholders also like government media and communication organisations and other departments for their valuable contribution towards voters’ awareness.

President Droupadi Murmu addressed the 13th National Voters’ Day celebrations in New Delhi today. She urged all citizens to consider voting as their contribution to nation-building and they must vote with the spirit of ‘nation paramount’. https://t.co/VULow8cJFa pic.twitter.com/6yU04WDYaJ

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 25, 2023

Addressing the gathering, the President said that members of the Constituent Assembly expressed immense faith in the wisdom of citizens and made provision for elections on the basis of adult franchise. The people of India have lived up to their faith. India’s democracy is respected as the world’s largest, vibrant and stable democracy, she said.

The President said the election process has made possible a social revolution in the country during the past seven decades. It is a great success of the Indian democracy that the common voter living in remote areas feels that he or she has a major role in deciding who would and how they would govern the country or state.

She said that “our democracy is continuously moving forward towards achieving the objectives of social, economic and political justice enshrined in the Constitution”.

The President expressed confidence that with the combined efforts of the Election Commission and all other participants, the Indian democracy would become stronger.

The President said that the motto of the Election Commission ‘no voter to be left behind’ to motivate the voters, is commendable. This sentence explains the goal of the Election Commission to make the voting process easier for all voters. The theme of this year’s National Voters’ Day ‘Nothing Like Voting, I Vote for Sure’ shows the resolve of the voters.

The collective contribution of the Election Commission and the voters strengthens the electoral process of the country, she said. She urged all citizens to consider voting as their contribution to nation-building and must vote with the spirit of ‘nation paramount’.

The President said that it is a great achievement of the election process and democracy that the active participation of women in the democratic process is continuously increasing. In the 2019 general election, the number of female voters was slightly higher than that of males.

Also noteworthy is the fact that for the first time in the history of Indian Parliament, both the Houses together, the number of women parliamentarians has crossed the hundred mark. From Gram Panchayat to Parliament, women are contributing significantly. Their participation and numbers should increase further.

President Murmu received the first copy of a book titled ‘Electing the First Citizen — An illustrated Chronicle of India’s Presidential Elections’ from Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar. This book gives glimpses into the historic journey of Presidential Elections in the country.

Since 2011, the National Voters’ Day has been celebrated on 25 January every year, all across the country to mark the foundation day of the Election Commission of India, i.e. 25th January 1950.

The main purpose of this celebration is to create electoral awareness amongst citizens and encourage them to participate in the electoral process. The National Voters’ Day is also used to facilitate enrolment of voters, specially the newly eligible young voters.