Jammu, Mar 03: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has honored Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo for his exceptional leadership in ensuring the successful conduct of the 18th Lok Sabha elections in Jammu and Kashmir. In recognition of his efforts, the Chief Secretary was presented with a ‘Certificate of Exemplary Leadership,’ signed by the Chief Election Commissioner and the two other Election Commissioners.
The appreciation comes after Jammu and Kashmir recorded a remarkable 58.11% voter turnout, marking the highest participation in a general election since 1989. This was a significant improvement of more than 14% over the 2019 elections, which saw a turnout of just around 44%.
These elections were particularly historic as they were the first general elections in the Union Territory after its reorganization in 2019. A total of 87,26,281 eligible voters participated in the electoral process, with 11,629 polling stations set up across the region. To ensure smooth and efficient voting, 80,724 polling personnel were trained and deployed by the ECI.
In a bid to enhance accessibility and inclusivity, the administration introduced several innovative polling stations for the first time. These included 83 women-manned stations, 70 youth-manned stations, 73 polling stations manned by persons with disabilities, 88 Green Polling Stations, and 180 Border Polling Stations. Additionally, there were 152 Model Polling Stations and 46 Unique Polling Stations, each reflecting specific themes designed to engage different segments of society and encourage broader participation in the democratic process.
With a special focus on women, youth, and persons with disabilities, these stations were equipped with amenities tailored to their unique needs, making the election process more accessible and fostering a more inclusive environment for voter participation.
The recognition by the ECI highlights the successful efforts of the J&K administration under Atal Dulloo’s leadership, which led to a smooth, accessible, and inclusive electoral process in a region that has faced unique challenges over the years.
