By: Vijay Kumar Verma, Editor-ICN Group
SHIMLA: First general elections in the country were held in the year 1951-52 with Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh leading the election process in the year 1951. It was due to the reason that higher reaches of the state like Kinnaur get heavy snowfall early thus making the normal public movement difficult.
Thus Shyam Saran Negi of Kinnaur in the state of Himachal became the first voter of independent India. This was informed by Shri Ajay Srivastav, Associate Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications, Himachal Pradesh University in his address at the symposium on “Indian Democracy – Mantra for Effective Elections” organised by the Shimla Chapter of Public Relations Society of India here today.
Earlier welcoming the participants and speakers of the symposium Ashok Sharma, Chapter Chairman of PRSI told that the Society was holding such symposiums all over the country through its various chapters in order to generate awareness about the value of franchise among the youth. April 21, he told, marked the 60th PR Day. The PRSI, he told had been formed way back in 2018.
Dr. Neeraj Sharma,OSD , department of Elections in Himachal Pradesh said that voting right be used in right earnest manner and become a voter instead of elector.He emphasized upon sensitizing the younger generation about voting right very beginning in the school days.
Dr. Rajinder Singh Chauhan, Vice Chancellor of the University presided over the function a Chief Guest.
