New Delhi: Olympic Medalists Ms Saina Nehwal and Ms M C Mary Kom are the new National Icons of Election Commission of India to enhance voters’ participation in elections. They are the first female national icons to support ECI. They join the galaxy of existing national icons namely former president Dr A P J Abdul Kalam and Indian cricket captain Mr. M S Dhoni.
Promotional messages from these icons, in audio-visual formats, have been organised on the direction of the Commission by the Chief Electoral Officers of Andhra Pradesh and Manipur with collaboration from Doordarshan. The ready to use material were today sent to various states for promoting both voter turnout and registration.
Messages of Ms Nehwal and Ms Mary Kom will be used in Gujarat and all subsequent elections for enhancing voter turnout. There are separate messages from them for promoting enrollment of voters in various states and union territories, particularly among youth and women.
The two leading sportswomen have been roped in as part of ECI’s strategy to bridge the noticeable gap in youth participation and also the gender gap in electoral participation in several areas.