Nagaland: Women participate in mock parliament debate at Wokha

Dimapur: The Wokha district administration and district election office, in collaboration with Lotha Eloe Hoho (Lotha women organization) and the Wokha District Hub for Empowerment of Women, organised a women’s mock parliament debate on the topic “Men dictate the vote and voice of Naga women” at the Wokha DC’s conference hall on Thursday.

In his keynote address, Wokha additional deputy commissioner K Furhesie said this event has been organised for the second time under the systematic voters’ education and electoral participation (SVEEP) campaign in Wokha district to educate the voters and promote voters’ literacy in the country.

He also stated that it is a multi-intervention programme that aims to reach out to the voters and citizens through different modes and media to increase their awareness of the election process and promote their informed participation.

Furhesie added the other objectives of this campaign are to increase the voter turnout by 75 per cent in the coming Lok Sabha elections, purify the electoral roll in every polling booth, bridge the gender gap in enrolment turnout, address urban and youth apathy in electoral participation and enhance the quality of electoral participation in terms of ethical voting through such awareness programmes.

Ten women participants took part in the debate competition. Students and Lotha Eloe Hoho representatives led by their chairperson Thungbeni Ngullie attend the programme.

Wokha assistant election officer Chisho K Swu briefed the participants about the functioning of the EVM and also gave its hands-on demonstration.