National award to decorate IE DC

Imphal, Jan 23 (DIPR)
The Election Commission of India is conferring Deputy Commissioner/District Election Officer (DEO) of Imphal East, Dr Rangitabali Waikhom with the “Best Electoral Practices Awards, 2019” under “Inclusive and Participative Election.”
The award will be distributed by the President of the country, on January 25 in connection with the National Voters Day, at Zorawar auditorium, Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi.
Manipur became the first State in India to introduce all-women polling booths in an entire Assembly Constituency in the recently concluded Lok Sabha Election. Imphal East DC, Dr Rangitabali Waikhom came up with the idea of converting an entire Assembly segment into all-women polling station showcasing women empowerment by giving real power and authority in an important Nation building activity.
For the first time, 9 transgenders also exercised their franchise in the district as a positive step towards gender equality. The district witnessed huge voter turnout including marginalized sections of the society in celebrating the festival of democracy.
The award conferred to DC/DEO Imphal East is in recognition of the commendable job of main- streaming marginalized sections, especially women, PwD and transgender in the electoral process and giving them the opportunity to shoulder a great responsibility in elections in the world’s largest democracy.
Dr Rangitabali, speaking to DIPR, said that this is a very prestigious National award and it is a proud moment for a small State like Manipur to be in the league of outstanding performances in the country.
It is also a proud moment for the State and the entire region and it is an honour to all the women officials of IE  District who participated in the elections 2019 for all their hard works, she added.
Dr Rangitabali added that the effort to involve women in large numbers can serve as a success story in election management which will be remembered by the generations to come. Future DEOs may learn about inclusive and participatory elections through involvement of the masses from the achievements of DEO IE, she added.