Rally by kids to highlight value of voting

VELLORE: A human chain by school students, an oath-taking ceremony and cultural shows marked National Voters Day on Wednesday.A rally by school students, flagged off by the district revenue officer A Sundaravalli at Gandhi Statue, ended at Anna Kalaiarangam on Officers line. The students carried placards stressing the importance of voting. Collector Ajay Yadav gave the first voter identity cards to newly enrolled persons at a function at the Anna Kalaiarangam. Officials said as many as 1,64,837 persons were included as new voters in a total of 26,63,003, comprising 13,26,765 male and 13,36,003 female voters. As of November 5, 2011, 15,942 voters were included in Arakkonam taluk, 16,971 in Sholinghur, 7,292 in Katpadi, 25,459 in Ranipet, 10,642 in Arcot, 20,646 in Vellore, 10,211 in K V Kuppam, 14,237 in Guidyattam, 8,837 in Vaniyambadi, 10,525 in Ambur, 12,452 in Jolarpet and 16,795 in Tirupattur.  There are 1,522 centres in the district to distribute the new identity cards.