GUWAHATI, Feb 26 � Pointing out that in a democratically ruled country, it is a sacred duty of every voter to exercise one�s franchise in every election, the meeting of the Executive Committee of All India Services Pensioners� Forum held here recently with N Changkakoti, former DGP Assam in the chair appealed to the voters of Assam to cast their votes without fail in the coming Assembly election, according to a press release.
The meeting also opined that corruption has become the most important impediment in bringing about speedy development of the State and is also causing moral degradation of the people in general and therefore the State Government should make every effort to deal with this menace effectively.
In this connection, the meeting suggested that the Institution of Lokayukta� in the State should be strengthened giving it powers to take cognizance of allegations of corruption �suo-motu� and placing an investigating unit of adequate strength entirely at its disposal. Further the meeting felt that the checking process at the checkgates at Srirampur and Chagalia should be fully computerized and covered by closed circuit television.
Taking note of the fact that during last ten years, as many as fourteen large-scale communal disturbances occurred in the State, causing death of more than four hundred people and making thousands of people homeless, the meeting decided to organise a seminar sometime in August next, to discuss the root causes of such conflicts and to suggest effective measures for their prevention permanently.
