Governor Urmila Singh stressed upon providing of adequate funds and modernizing the State Election Commissions with latest technology so that these could function in a befitting manner and could perform their responsibilities in the right perspective. She was inaugurating the 15th All India Conference of State Election Commissioners. In her inaugural address, Governor said that Centre and State Governments should provide adequate infrastructure and resources to the State Election Commissions in order to strengthen the democratic set up. She said that modern voting machines, computers and other latest facilities should be made available in these offices so that they could function effectively and independently. She emphasized the importance of Panchayati Raj Institutions and said that their strengthening would help in realizing the dream of ‘Gram Swaraj’ envisioned by the Father of the Nation, late Mahatma Gandhi.

Urmila Singh said that the conference will go a long way in sharing the ideas and experiences of State Election Commissioners of various States which can lead to fruitful conclusions. She said that such interactions provide an open platform for discussions and provide insights into evolving mechanism to tackle the challenges being faced by the Election Commissions. She said that reforms carried out by certain States could guide other States also in future.