Two IAS officers in Karnataka were honored with the prestigious Best Electoral Practices Awards for their exceptional contributions during the state Assembly polls on May 10 of the previous year.
During the National Voters’ Day celebrations in New Delhi, President Droupadi Murmu presented the Best Electoral Practices Awards for the year 2023 to deserving state and district-level officers for their exemplary performance in conducting the 2023 elections.
Divya Prabhu G R J, the Deputy Commissioner of Chitradurga, was selected by the Election Commission (EC) for her commendable efforts in enhancing the enrollment of various demographic groups, including youths, transgenders, people with disabilities, and sex workers as voters. Under her leadership, the number of voters with disabilities in the district increased from 14,092 to 23,422, with 100% participation in the state assembly polls last year.
Shikha C, the Commissioner for Commercial Taxes, received recognition for her department’s innovative strategies in ensuring free and fair state assembly elections. The creation of an e-ARM cell led to the seizure of assets exceeding Rs 300 crore in the lead-up to the polls on May 10 of the previous year.
The Best Electoral Practices Awards were also conferred upon officials from Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Tripura, Rajasthan, Mizoram, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Jharkhand. Mr. Vinit Nandanwar, the Collector of Dantewada in Chhattisgarh, was among the recipients, acknowledged for his pivotal role in significantly increasing voter turnout in a challenging terrain.
Dantewada, known as a stronghold of ultra-leftist insurgents advocating election boycotts, witnessed a remarkable 9.26% increase in voter turnout across its 90 assembly constituencies, thanks to Mr. Nandanwar’s efforts.
