Gaya: The Election Commission (EC) has selected Nidhi, a physically challenged girl, as its Gaya district icon to motivate voters.
Nidhi was formally launched as the icon at a function held at Gaya collectorate on Thursday. District magistrate Sanjay Agrawal presided over the function. Nidhi, had exercised her franchise for the first time in 2014 LS elections.
Introducing Nidhi, who has both speech and hearing disorder, DM-cum-district election officer Agrawal said Nidhi represents the ‘silent’ voters, whose decision counts a lot during the elections in the selection of representatives. This group speaks through the ballot, said the DM. Expressing happiness over EC nod to make Nidhi, the voter icon, Agrawal said Nidhi would be moving in each block to motivate the voters to vote in a fearless manner.
There are altogether 26,73,969 voters spread over 10 assembly segments of the district. They include 12,70,825 women voters. Bodh Gaya with 2,88,093 voters has got the highest number while Sherghati with 2,47,117 voters has got the minimum number. The number of voters in Gaya town assembly segment is 2,47,353.
Nidhi, a resident of Khairti village under Bodh Gaya block is a master of fine arts from Jagatguru Raghvendracharya Handicapped University, Chitrakoot, UP. She is also a recipient of Chancellor’s gold medal for her paintings. During her visit to the blocks, Nidhi’s paintings too would be displayed to motivate the voters. Besides voters, Nidhi will also motivate the differently abled children to come forward and carve a niche for themselves, The Times of India reported.
“Children suffering from physical disadvantages are not disabled, they are just differently abled,” said Nidhi’s father Jugal Kishore Dwivedi, an electrician.