Electoral Literacy Awareness Initiative: Painting & Photography Competition Held at Government SPMR College of Commerce, Jammu

In line with the directives of the Chief Electoral Officer, Jammu & Kashmir, Government SPMR College of Commerce organized a vibrant Painting and Photography Competition on September 9, 2024, as part of a broader initiative to promote electoral literacy among youth ahead of the upcoming J&K Legislative Assembly Elections 2024. This event was conducted under the guidelines set by the Electoral Literacy Clubs (ELCs) and aimed to encourage maximum participation of first-time voters and foster a sense of civic responsibility among students.

A total of 30 students enthusiastically participated, showcasing their artistic skills by painting walls, creating posters, and capturing thought-provoking photographs. The event highlighted the theme of “Greater Participation for a Stronger Democracy” with students expressing their interpretations of democratic values and the importance of voting through creative media.

The entries were evaluated by a panel led by Dr. Deepshikha Sharma and her team, who assessed the paintings and photographs based on creativity, relevance to the theme, and execution. The top three students in wall painting were Pranav and Jaismine, Sonakshi and Bhoomi and Varsha, Vivek and Sumit and in Poster making Competition, Muskan gets first prize, Siddharth bagged 2nd and 3rd prize was won by Kiranjeet who were awarded certificates of excellence in recognition of their outstanding contributions.

Principal Dr. Rajinder Singh graced the occasion and appreciated the efforts of the participants, faculty, and organizers in making the event a success. He emphasized the importance of such initiatives in educating and motivating the youth to exercise their voting rights. The entire event was efficiently coordinated by Prof. Rajni Sharma, Dr. Ridhi Sharma, Prof. Rishu Mahajan, Dr. Mamta Rani and Mr. Ravi Kumar.

This event is part of a series of activities initiated by the college under the Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign, as directed by the Chief Electoral Officer, J&K, to boost electoral participation among the youth. Further activities planned include street plays, debates, quizzes, film screenings, and social media campaigns, all aimed at spreading electoral awareness.