Citizens have the last chance to get their vote registered, can register their vote until April 26

Every voter contributes to the Chunav Ka Parv Desh ka Garv, the festival of elections - Anurag Agarwal

EPIC cards and photo voter slips will be issued in Braille script for the convenience of visually impaired voters

Chandigarh, March 29 - Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, Sh. Anurag Agarwal said that citizens still have the last chance to get their vote registered for the Lok Sabha general elections. Citizens can register their vote until April 26, 2024, and they can mark their presence in the Chunav Ka Parv Desh ka Garv, the festival of elections.

The Chief Electoral Officer said that eligible individuals can register their vote by filling out Form-6 with the concerned BLO, Election Registration Officer, Assistant Election Registration Officer. This form is also available on the website of the Chief Electoral Officer’s office, https://www.ceoharyana.gov.in and can be downloaded. To register a vote, individuals can apply offline or online with two passport size coloured photographs, along with proof of residence and age certificate. For information related to voter registration, citizens can contact the toll-free number - 1950.

For the convenience of visually impaired voters, EPIC cards and photo voter slips will be issued in Braille script

Sh. Anurag Agarwal said that for the convenience of persons with disability (PwD) voters in the state, EPIC cards and photo voter slips will be printed in Braille script, and facilities such as Braille ballot papers and slips on EVMs will also be available. In addition to this, various facilities are being provided to PwD voters, including arrangements for wheelchairs, ramps at polling stations, and transportation.

He said that so far, the number of identified PwD voters in the state is 1,48,597. Arrangements will be made to bring PwD voters to the polling station. Wheelchairs will also be made available to those voters who are unable to walk. Arrangements for ramps will be made at every polling station. Additionally, arrangements for volunteers from NGOs, NSS, and Red Cross will also be made for their assistance, shared Sh. Anurag Agarwal.

The Chief Electoral Officer said that visually impaired voters and PwD voters who are unable to cast their vote by pressing the machine button can bring a helper with them to cast their vote. The age of the helper should be 18 years or older. He said that PwD voters who are capable of casting their vote by pressing the EVM button can bring a helper along with them to the voting booth, but the helper cannot enter the voting booth.

Sh. Anurag Agarwal said that according to the registered voter data so far, there are a total of 1,98,29,675 voters in the state, including 1,05,25,840 males, 93,03,385 females, and 450 transgender voters.

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Adequate arrangements have been made for the procurement of Rabi crops, Dr. Sumita Misra

The procurement of wheat will commence from April 1, with 417 mandis/purchase centers established

Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, chairs a key meeting with the DCs, SPs, and DFSCs, issues directives to the officers regarding the preparation

Chandigarh, March 29 - Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs, Dr. Sumita Misra today chaired a key meeting with the Deputy Commissioners, Police Superintendents, and District Food and Supply Controllers (DFSCs) regarding the preparations for procurement through video conferencing.

During the meeting, she shared that the Procurement of mustard has been ongoing in Haryana under the Rabi season 2024 since March 26, and now procurement of wheat will commence from April 1, for which 417 mandis/purchase centers have been established.

She further shared that this year, it is expected that there will be higher arrivals of wheat compared to the previous year, and hence robust arrangements have been made for the procurement of crops. Once again, the payment for crop procurement will be directly credited to the farmers' accounts through electronic mode within 48 to 72 hours, informed Dr. Sumita Misra.

She directed the officers concerned that four procurement agencies, namely, Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department, HAFED, HSWC, and FCI (Central Agency), will procure crops at the minimum support price set by the Government of India. Deputy Commissioners will coordinate with these agencies in their districts and monitor procurement activities.

Dr. Sumita Misra said that surprise inspections of mandis will also be carried out by senior officials of the district. In addition, senior IAS officers, who are district in-charges, will inspect mandis in their respective districts.

She said that registered farmers will receive online payments for MSP directly into their bank accounts through the e-kharid portal. Proper cleanliness arrangements and other basic facilities will be ensured in mandis and purchase centers. She directed that this year, considering the expected higher arrival of wheat, sufficient storage space should be earmarked for storing the crop in the concerned districts.

Dr. Sumita Misra said that coordination should be established with HAFED and Haryana State Warehousing Corporation to arrange additional storage facilities such as silos, if available in their or adjoining districts.

She said that to ensure proper operation of procurement and to avoid any unpleasant situation, the Director-General of Police ensures adequate security arrangements in mandis. Additionally, traffic management will be carried out by the police to prevent inconvenience to other travelers near mandis due to traffic jams/crowds. She also directed the installation of checkpoints in districts adjoining other states, said Dr. Sumita Misra.

She directed the Deputy Commissioners to appoint a nodal officer to oversee procurement activities in mandis/purchase centers. For the safety of crops, sufficient arrangements of temporary shed/tarpaulin should also be ensured.

It was informed during the meeting that help desks have been set up in mandis for the convenience of farmers, and arrangements for drinking water and toilets have also been made. CCTV cameras and electronic weighbridges have been provided in mandis as well.

Managing Director, Haryana State Warehousing Corporation, Sh. K. Makarand Pandurang, Chief Administrator, Haryana State Agricultural Marketing Board, Sh. Mukesh Kumar Ahuja, Director, Agriculture Department, Sh. Rajnarayan Kaushik, Director, Food, Civil Supplies, and Consumer Affairs Department, Sh. Mukul Kumar and other officers also remained present during the meeting.

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Gurugram launches unique initiative for voters having hearing disability

Video prepared in sign language for such voters in the Digital Sign Language Lab set up at the Speech and Hearing Impairment Public Welfare Center, Gurugram.

Video broadcast on the YouTube channel of the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities

Chandigarh, March 29 - A unique initiative has been taken by the Gurugram district to make voters aware of the 2024 Lok Sabha general elections. A video has been prepared by the ‘Digital Sign Language Lab’ of the ‘Haryana Welfare Society for Persons with Speech and Hearing Impairment’, Gurugram, to motivate voters having hearing disability. Through this video, such voters are given detailed information about the importance of democracy and voting through sign language.

Gurugram District Election Officer and Deputy Commissioner, Sh. Nishant Kumar Yadav said that several activities are going on in the Gurugram district to motivate voters to use their franchise. Awareness programmes are being organised daily through Atal Seva Kendras, educational institutions, the Women and Child Development Department, the Transport Department, etc. through the ‘SVEEP’ programme of the Election Commission of India.

He informed that the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Government of India has uploaded this 9-minute video on its YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@DEPwDAccessibleIndiaCampaign). This video provides detailed information about what is democracy, the decision of mandate, the formation of the government, the franchise, the duties of voters, etc. through sign language. This effort will prove to be very effective in empowering democracy, he added

Dr. Seema, Assistant Director, Welfare Center for Persons with Speech and Hearing Impairment, Gurugram said that the Haryana Welfare Society has run many programmes for Persons with Speech and Hearing Impairment. She said that the Digital Sign Language Lab is also working in Gurugram. This video has been prepared in this lab. This video, broadcast by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, is also being liked by many.

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Youth will have an important role in making the country developed: Prof. B.R. Kamboj

‘Youth Dialogue – India 2047’ organized by the National Service Scheme (NSS) unit of Haryana Agricultural University

Chandigarh, March 29 - Youth will play an important role in making India a developed country. Each student should strive at their individual level to empower themselves and their families. These views were expressed by Professor B.R. Kamboj, Vice Chancellor of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar, during his address at the 'Yuva Samvad - India 2047' event, which was organized by the National Service Scheme (NSS) unit of the Directorate of Student Welfare, where he served as the chief guest.

Professor B.R. Kamboj emphasized the critical role of education in driving the progress and prosperity of the nation. He urged students to exert themselves diligently to carve out a bright future and attain leadership positions across various domains. Additionally, he stressed the importance of discipline and efficient time management in attaining one's objectives. Professor Kamboj underscored the significance of being cognizant not only of our rights but also our duties, highlighting the importance of fulfilling our responsibilities towards society and the nation effectively.

Dr. S.K. Pahuja, the Dean of Agriculture College, described Swami Vivekananda as a source of inspiration for the youth, emphasizing the need for continuous efforts coupled with positive thinking to progress in life. Additionally, he imparted six tips to the students for achieving success. On this occasion, Dr. M.L. Khichhad, the Director of Student Welfare, extended a warm welcome to all attendees and highlighted that the N.S.S. unit presented comprehensive reports detailing various programs conducted.