Shillong, March 6: Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Dr BDR Tiwari launched an Electoral Literacy Club at Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya Mawphlang Thursday, urging students to anchor the SVEEP goal that “no voter to be left behind.”
Tiwari said young people are key to strengthening the world’s largest democracy.
“The youth represent the future of India,” he told students, adding that universal adult franchise was adopted at independence long before many older democracies extended the same right to all.
He linked national and local traditions, noting the Northeast’s grassroots practices — including Khasi Dorbars, Syiems and Dollois recognised under the Sixth Schedule — as examples of participatory politics he first observed while posted in Sohra.
Tiwari asked ELC members to treat democracy as listening as much as speaking.
“Leadership requires patience to respect differing opinions.”
He encouraged use of the ECINET app for Forms 6, 7 and 8 and briefed students on the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, saying ELC volunteers could help communities understand verification without fear.
Organised with the Deputy Commissioner’s office and Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti, the event included Principal Dr N Sharma, SVEEP nodal officer K G Nongrum and staff.
Officers said residential schools such as JNVs can model extracurricular work on elections, with Mawphlang intended as a template for other institutions in East Khasi Hills.
