JAMMU: Deputy Commissioner, Kathua, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary has been selected for National Award 2014 for best performance in country in the field of electoral inclusion, reforms and best practices for voter awareness and conduct of elections as District Election Officer Reasi in 2014.
The award will be conferred upon Dr Iqbal by the President of India during the function to be organised by Election Commission of India on the eve of Republic Day, National Voters Day later this month.
The award is given for best performance in Lok Sabha elections after every five years. Two District Election Officers are being awarded for best electoral work at national level. The selection committee headed by Chief Election Commissioner of India approved name of Dr Iqbal out of 47 finalists nominated from 28 states and 7 Union Territories, who made presentations before the screening committees headed by Election Commissioners and Director General ECI, in July 2014.
Dr Iqbal as Deputy Commissioner Reasi launched project “Jashn-e-Jamhuriat” under which 26,000 new voters were added registering an increase of 16%, 1474 awareness camps organised, 100% inclusion and participation of differently abled voters, 35 campaigns and 107 activities for awareness rolled out which collectively ensured increase in turnout from previous 43% to 81% with women participation increasing from 34% to 79%, nomads from 23% to 81%, migrants from 3% to 92% and gender gap reduced from 20% to less than 1%.
The Roll Gender Ration was increased by 30 points which along with 16% increase in electoral inclusion and 38% rise in turnout is a national record. Pertinent to mention here that the turnout in Reasi district was also sustained in Assembly Elections 2014 at 81%.
He was also recently awarded the Good Governance Award for exceptional contribution by Minister of State for Defense Gen V K Singh for “Project Hope” and is also a shortlisted nominee for National Award for e-Governance 2014-15, for “Project e-Panchayat”.
