Staff Reporter

Shillong, March 6: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the election department and the education department today for activating the electoral literacy clubs (ELCs) to create awareness among young voters across the state ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing the occasion, deputy commissioner (DC) East Khasi Hills SC Sadhu said that the signing of MoU was in accordance with the directives of the Election Commission of India (ECI) to create larger awareness among the young voters in view of forthcoming Lok Sabha Election 2024.

Sadhu said that with the signing of MoU with the education department, many ELCs will be activated in higher educational institutions and in colleges and is expected that many students will participate in various awareness programs organized by the election department.

“With signing of MoU, the schools and colleges will provide spaces for creation of ELCs in which teachers and faculty will be the nodal person and awareness activities will be done in coordination with the election department,” Sadhu said.

Sadhu informed that there are ELCs in the higher educational institutions but some are functional and some are not very proactive or functional in reality on the ground, hence with the signing of MoU, these ELCs from now on will be monitored by the election department.

He added that there are certain provisions made in the MoU especially when it comes to creation of ELCs and creating awareness on the right to vote as it is in accordance with the instruction of ECI.