The office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Meghalaya has officially signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the state Education Department here today.
The collaboration aims to introduce the establishment of electoral clubs in schools across the state.
Through a press release, Director of Education, Swapnil Tembe, affirmed the strategic move, stating, “Our commitment to fostering well-rounded citizens led us to initiate this collaboration. By incorporating democracy into the syllabus and establishing electoral clubs, we aim to cultivate a deeper understanding of the democratic process among students.”
He also said students who turn 18 years of age should immediately get a voter ID card. Voting is lowest among 18- and 19-year-olds but, with this collaboration, the government hopes for an improvement in turnout.
The Chief Electoral Officer of Meghalaya, BDR Tiwari, told reporters that the Election Commission, in view of the forthcoming Lok Sabha 2024 elections, has come up with this idea of collaborating with the Education Department for the larger participation and especially to create awareness among young voters and to activate the electoral literacy clubs in schools and colleges.
“This collaboration is not just about education; it’s about empowering the youth to actively engage in the democratic process. By introducing these concepts early on, we are preparing the next generation of voters in a more comprehensive manner,” he added.
