The Chief Electoral Officer of Assam, MC Sahu, has informed that the Election Commission (EC) has selected Wildlife biologist Purnima Devi Barman of Assam as ‘State Icon’. Her role will be to urge the people of Assam to vote in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
A report published in the The Telegraph stated that apart from Barman, few renowned personalities of Assam like star athlete Hima Das, bodybuilder Golap Rabha, boxer Ankushita Boro, singer Tarali Sarma and actor Kapil Bora have also been roped in as ‘State Icons’. They will be required to motivate the people of Assam to exercise their franchise in the ensuing LS polls.
The report further stated that these persons have been selected under the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation Programme (SVEEP), the flagship programme of ECI for voter education, spreading voter awareness and promoting voter literacy in India.
Barman, who seems pretty excited, said, “I feel privileged to share with you that I am selected as a ‘State Icon’ by the Election Commission of India to spread awareness among voters.” She is the founder of ‘Hargila Army’, a group that is working tirelessly for the conservation of the endangered species Greater Adjutant Stork (known as Hargila) in local parlance in Assam. She has been bestowed prestigious awards like Whitley Award, also known as ‘Green Oscars’, for her efforts in conserving Greater Adjutant Storks.
‘Track Queen’ Hima Das, also known as ‘The Dhing Express’, is the first Indian sprinter to win a gold medal in a track event at the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World U20 Championships held at Tampere in Finland in July last year.
Golap Rabha bagged the title of ‘Mr World 2018’ in the World Body Building Federation (WBBF) Championship of Bodybuilding competition held at Lithuania, Europe. Ankushita Boro, who hails from Sonitpur district of Assam, won the junior world boxing championship in 2017. Tarali Sarma is a renowned singer and music director of the Assamese film industry and is a recipient of National Film Award, while Kapil Bora is a known face in the silver screen of Assam.
