Dimapur, July 23 (EMN): Embarking on a mission to educate people at the grassroot level on their rights, Clean Election Campaign Committee of the Langpangkong Kaketshir Mongdang (LKM) undertook a week-long touring programme on clean election from July 18 to 21.
The programme was aimed at reaching out to people at the grassroot by educating them about their electoral rights and benefit of securing fair and free election. LKM is a range students’ union under Mokokchung district.
During the interaction, respective village representatives have expressed anguish against the present state of affair about the pathetic conditions of roads, poor health care services, education, power and unemployment problem amongst the youth.
“I am now 46 years old and I was never allowed to cast my vote. I’ve not seen ballot paper and Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) in my life. I don’t have experience of voting in my life due to violence and corrupt practices during past elections,” one church leader said during discussion hour on clean election campaign.
‘We have realised only now that clean election campaign is much more than casting vote on polling day. It opened our mind to understand the power of electoral rights and consequences of selling votes and holding undemocratic election,’ another village council member said.
While attempting to identify the area where people are losing their entitlements and benefit of welfare state, LKMCECC members asked the people whether we feel ourselves dignified as and when we walk on the muddy and dusty road? The members also questioned whether it was honourable for us when poor parents received notice about defaulting to pay their children tuition fees in private schools instead of getting quality education free of cost in government schools?
Reminding that the people have elected their representative, LKMCECC said the people have to take its own share of blame for the current state of affairs.
“If the blame over the present sorry state affairs is shared between the electors and elected, the electors (people) would have got bigger share,” LKMCECC said.
LKMCECC also appealed the people to pray for God fearing, morally strong, cultured and patriotic and man of understanding to be their candidate to restore our land and secure our future.
LKMCECC during its first phase of grass roots tour program visited Tzüdikong, Kangtsüng, Kangtsüngyimsen, Anaki, Anaki ‘C’, Wameken, Asangma, Kelingmen, Merangkong and Nukshiyim villages. They have formed a local action committee in each and every village and town they have visited for implementation of clean election principles.
The second phase of LKMCECC clean election tour to remaining villages is scheduled n the last part of August 2017.
