Panaji, Aug 31 (IANS) The Election Commission of India is pulling out all stops to ensure the participation of the youth, especially those disillusioned by politicians, in the country's poll process, Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi said Tuesday.

Addressing a press conference here, he said that a nationwide programme would be conducted on Jan 25, 2011 to induct 2 crore youngsters turning 18 that month into "democratic India's greatest festival".

"We are celebrating National Voter's Day on Jan 25, when the Election Commission was founded 60 years ago, one day before the country became a republic," Quraishi said while speaking to the media after chairing a conference of chief electoral officers from the west zone, which includes Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Daman and Diu and Dadra and Nagar Haveli.

"We want to give the youth a sense of participation in the election process. This segment is generally omitted from the voter's list because very often they are cynical about democratic processes," Quraishi said.

He also said that a nationwide programme covering 8.5 lakh voting booths across the country would be held on Jan 25, 2011 to distribute photo identity cards to 2 crore youngsters who turn 18 that month, making them eligible to vote.

"The functions will be held simultaneously all over the country on Jan 25, 2011," he said.