In a significant effort to enhance voter awareness and mobilise participation for the upcoming Lok sabha election, the Chief Electoral Officer, Yetindra M. Maralkar, visited Sakti Village in the Kharu Sub-Division of Leh on May 16.

The event commenced with a warm welcome from the village Nambardar and Goba, who, along with the lamas of Chemdey Monastery, students from the Government Model School, Sakti (Serthi), and residents, greeted CEO Yetinder Maralkar and officers with traditional khataqs.

Addressing the gathering, CEO Yetinder M. Maralkar highlighted the importance of active participation in the electoral process and urged all eligible voters to cast their ballots on May 20. "Every vote counts in shaping the future of the region and nation. I encourage all citizens to exercise their democratic rights responsibly," he stated.

State SVEEP icon, Phunsok Ladakhi, further motivated the crowd by highlighting the significance of electoral participation through a locally inspired song dedicated to the General Election 2024. Female icon Stanzin Idzes also spoke passionately and urged the voters and the youth to ensure a strong turnout on election day.

The SVEEP Ladakh initiative is dedicated to educating and encouraging voters across the Union Territory of Ladakh to engage actively in the democratic process. The visit of the Chief Electoral Officer to Sakti Village is part of a wider strategy to reach out to remote and rural communities, ensuring comprehensive voter awareness and participation.

Among the attendees were the Additional Secretary, Elections, Ladakh, Swaran Singh; State icon Phunsok Ladakhi; female icon Stanzin Idzes; sub-divisional magistrate, Kharu, Sonam Dorjey; booth level officers, and other concerned officers.

On the other hand, a dedicated team from the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation Ladakh (SVEEP Ladakh) programme, led by the State Nodal Officer Dr. Tsewang Morup, and district icon SVEEP Ladakh Stanzin Dorjey Gya conducted a significant outreach initiative. The team visited prominent monasteries in the region, including Spituk, Phyang, and Likir Monasteries, to raise awareness about voter participation in the upcoming General Elections 2024.

During their visit, the team engaged with key religious and community leaders, including Ven. Gonbo Dorjey, Chakzod of Spituk Monastery, Ven. Rigzin Dorjey, Chakzod of Phyang Monastery, Ven. Lobzang Tsetan, Chakzod of Likir Monastery, and students of Government High School, Likir. Additionally, they met with the nambardar of Phyang (Tsewang Nurboo), the nambardar of Likir (Skarma Jorgyes), and the president of the Women's Alliance, Likir (Jigmet Choskit).

The State Nodal Officer, Ladakh Dr. Tsewang Morup, highlighted the importance of every vote in shaping the future of the nation, at Phyang Monastery. Dr. Tsewang Morup urged all the venerable monks to educate, inform, and encourage the voters of the areas to actively participate in the electoral process on the day of the General Elections 2024.

The District icon SVEEP Ladakh, Stanzin Dorjey Gya, engaged with the voters and urged them to exercise their democratic rights in the forthcoming elections.

The District icon and State Nodal Officer presented the Ven. Chakzods of Monasteries, Nambardars, and the president of Women's Alliance with special tokens of appreciation, including water bottles, SVEEP Ladakh T-shirts, and badges.