Encouraging elderly voters to take part in poll process

bika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan, April 24

In a bid to enhance voter participation, the district administration is making special efforts to encourage the elderly voters to cast their vote.

In Solan district, there are 20 voters above 100 years with two voters in Kasauli and Solan Assembly constituencies being as old as 108 years. They are Tash Bahadur from Solan and Lakshmi Nand from Kasauli.

Solan has the highest number of eight such voters where two voters are 100 years and two of 101 and one each of 103, 104 and 105 years. Nalagarh is the lone Assembly segment where there is no voter in the age group of 100 and above while in the remaining three constituencies - Arki, Doon and Kasauli - there are four such voters in each segment.

District Returning Officer Vinod Kumar said he has instructed all Assistant Returning Officers to visit and encourage them to participate in the poll process. He added that he would take the initiative to meet and persuade them to vote.

SDM, Arki, Vikas Shukla, who recently met 103-year-old Chhanga Ram Sharma at Talog village near Manju, said he had served in the personal staff of former Presidents and also seen the British raj. He started his job in 1940 and superannuated in 1980.

Residing with his grandchildren, Sharma recalled how the British were particular about the norms and even he had been denied entry until he produced his identity card while in service. He had served in Shimla during the British raj.

Sharma urged the voter to vote as it was an occasion to choose a person of his choice. Sharma was still alert and recalled his long association with President Rajendra Prasad, Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed,etc.