Mysuru: National Voters Day was celebrated at the Jayachamaraja Wadiyar Hall of Mysuru City Corporation (MCC) this morning.

District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) Member-Secretary B.G. Dinesh inaugurated the programme. ADC Dr. P. Shivaraju, MCC Deputy Commissioner Dr. Dasegowda, Zilla Panchayat Deputy Secretary (Planning) B.M. Savitha and Social Welfare Department Joint Secretary Rangegowda were present.

B.G. Dinesh administered the oath on the significance of voting and distributed Voter ID to new voters. Dinesh said, every year such programmes are organised, including during the elections effectively, but still the percentage of voting is relatively low, with 100 percent polling turning a mirage. The voters should introspect themselves. Even though the literacy rate is high, there is still a dip in percentage of people taking part in electoral exercise.

“Earlier, the voters were funding the candidates, embodying the values they practiced, but now the scenario is entirely different, with the voters making their choice on the basis of caste and religion, falling back in practicing the values had inherited from their ancestors,” bemoaned Dinesh.

The children have turned into the slaves of social media, the social malaise, from which we should rescue our children. The influence of cell phone is such that, children even refuse to watch TV. We have been educating children so that they secure good marks, but what should be taught is humanitarian values, said Dinesh.

ADC Dr. Shivaraju said, “it has become natural for the people to point at other’s mistakes, hiding their own mistakes. We should be mature and correct our mistakes.”

“When the holiday is announced to encourage the people to vote, they prefer to go on tour. This is how those who pocket salary in lakhs behave, but prefer to lecture others on voting and blame the system. We should enjoy the moment of voting and the children should accompany their parents to electoral booths,” he said.

Dr. Rangegowda said, every year National Voters Day is observed on Jan. 25 to create awareness on the importance of voting.

“Compulsorily everybody should take part in voting. However, it is unfortunate that democracy is not becoming stronger, despite the advancement of technology. There is also a decline in percentage of voting. The movements including student movement have vanished,” rued Dr. Rangegowda.

There is a tendency to speak about politicians but nobody prefers to speak about those involved in research activities and scientists, said Dr. Rangegowda.