Shimla, Mar 9
Centenarian and first voter of the World’s Largest democracy Shyam Saran Negi was administered first shot of Covid Vaccine at Kalpa as Government of India launched the biggest Vaccination program. After receiving the dose Negi appealed to all those who are eligible to get inoculated.
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“I am appealing to all those who are eligible to get themselves vaccinated to fight the coronavirus,” Negi said in Kalpa, some 275 kms from the state capital, after the vaccination.
He had participated in the 1951-52 general election which was the country’s first voting exercise. In 1951, Negi, a retired schoolteacher, was on an election duty and exercised his franchise in Chini constituency — later renamed Kinnaur. At that time, voting in the snow-bound areas of the mountain state was held ahead of other places in the country.
A staunch believer in democracy, the centenarian has never failed to cast his vote in any election, be it Lok Sabha, state assembly or panchayat.
Negi was accorded a warm welcome by doctors at the vaccination centre set up in the Primary Health Centre, about 500 meters away from his home.
“Mr. Negi reached the vaccination centre along with his family members,” spokesman of district administration confirmed.
After the vaccination, he was kept under observation for half-an-hour as per protocol, the official added.
