Page 20 - Leap of Faith Vol - 2

Leap of Faith Journey of Indian Elections

The story of India's independence- whose 75 year is federal democracy. By delivering free, fair, regular and
being observed at present- would be incomplete without credible elections Election Commission of India acted as
the story of rollout of her elections. The establishment of the conscientious keeper of the flame. To conduct
a central and permanent Election Commission of India to elections in a vast, complex and populous country like
superintend, direct and control the elections under the India is a challenge. For the very same reasons, the annals
Constitution of India (Article 324) signified a landmark in of Indian elections could be instructive and inspiring.
the global history of electoral management. It brought
professionalism in electoral management, and shielded Democracy is being recognised today as an agency of
social change, inclusion and empowerment worldwide.
the elections from the possible influence of partisan
politics in a multi-party democracy. India's example was The Election Commission is conscientiously alive to these
attributes of democracy. There is a conscious and careful
later emulated by the Commonwealth nations, and new
planning to make the elections inclusive, accessible,
and emergent democracies at the end of the Cold War.
voter friendly and participatory. Since 2009, the Election
This institutionalisation of electoral democracy has Commission has rolled out a flagship programme viz.
proven to be an extremely pragmatic decision. The SVEEP (Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral
population of India has increased by an estimated one Participation) comprising general and customised
billion (Census 2021 is delayed) since the First General interventions at multiple levels for number of identified
Elections. While the population of India nearly categories like young and first time voters, women,
quadrupled from 36 crore to 138 crore between 1951 senior citizens, migrant workers, Persons with
and 2021, the electorate size has increased more than Disabilities, service voters etc. SVEEP has now entered its
five times in the same period from 17.32 crore to 91.1 fourth phase (2022-2025) with an increased focus to
crores. It would not have been possible to handle such seek universal and enlightened participation of citizens
figures without intervention of EVM-VVPAT. India again
in elections.
proved a pioneer in this regard. Technology has proven to
be the best friend in not only sustaining electoral With SVEEP, Election Commission of India's work has
management on this scale, but also in delivering a free, shifted from enforcement to enforcement plus cultivation.
fair, clean, and voter friendly election. ‘No Voter is to be Left Behind’ goes its motto. Voter
education has become a perennial job of the Commission,
The freedom movement in India ripened political especially since every year four to five states in India go in
sensibilities thus advancing the cause of democracy. There for elections. SVEEP has brought the Election Commission
was the time, at least for first two decades of independence,
into greater contact with the people both online and
when doubts and aspersions were cast on the democratic offline. The qualitative aspects of democracy have
potential of India. The demise of democracy was feared by become as important as the numbers. When one takes
some Indian political leaders and predicted by foreign
care of needs of different segment of voters, the overall
observers. It is a tribute to both the political leadership and voting percentage is bound to appreciate.
people of India that they maintained her democratic
institutions, spirit and practice. The mandate of India's In the 1950s, the success of India's 'great experiment’ with
sovereignty and unity are best served by a functioning democracy was a milestone in the history of the twentieth

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