IT News
Imphal, April 7:
The District Election Officer (DEO) and Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Kangpokpi, Mahesh Chaudhari, IAS, held a press briefing today regarding the ongoing commissioning of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) in the district, in accordance with the guidelines set by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
During the briefing, the DEO informed the media that the commissioning process is being conducted under continuous 24×7 CCTV surveillance to ensure transparency. He noted the involvement of political party representatives in the process, emphasizing the importance of their presence. Additionally, he highlighted the stringent security measures in place at the commissioning sites and strong rooms, with engineers from ECI overseeing the process.
The DEO revealed that the ‘vote-from-home’ facility will commence 3-4 days prior to the poll day (April 19), catering specifically to senior citizens above 85 years of age and voters with over 40 percent disability, aiming to enhance inclusivity in the electoral process.
Furthermore, he disclosed that Election Observers have evaluated the district’s preparedness, engaging with political parties and inspecting polling stations and relief camps. The DEO also outlined the progress of postal ballot polling procedures and upcoming training sessions for polling personnel.
Highlighting the Systematic Voter’s Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) activities conducted under CEO (SH-ADC), the DEO underscored efforts to promote voter education and awareness among citizens, including activities in local markets, educational institutions, and internally displaced persons’ households.
Deputy DEO, Nodal Officer for Training Management, provided updates on training sessions for polling personnel, including Presiding Officers, Polling Officers, and Micro Observers. He emphasized the importance of thorough training and announced upcoming sessions for those with doubts.
Additionally, the District level Media Certification and Monitoring Committee (MCMC) team urged political parties and candidates to avoid publishing inflammatory or misleading advertisements without pre-certification. Pre-certification from MCMC at the State/District level is mandatory for any advertisement to be published in print media.
Regarding the exemption of polling personnel from duties, the Chairman of the District Level Medical Board informed about the availability of the list of exempted personnel on the district website, following a session held on April 2.
Lastly, the Additional DEO, Nodal Officer for Transport Management, assured arrangements for the smooth dispersal of polling parties, expressing gratitude to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer for their assistance in transport logistics.
Meanwhile, the second round of training for Female Polling Personnel in preparation for the upcoming 18th Lok Sabha General Election 2024 concluded today at Churachandpur Government College. The training, covering 58-Churachand (ST) AC and 59-Saikot (ST) AC, included Special Training for first-time Presiding Officers and Polling Officers, as well as all categories of reserved pool (male and female).
Concurrently, the Wall of Democracy initiative, a signature campaign held as part of Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) activities, took place at Churachandpur Government College under the guidance of SVEEP Nodal Officer Vidyamari Sridhar, IAS.
Supervised by Nodal Officers S. Thienlaljoy Gangte (Training Management), Lalthanza (Manpower), and Shri Soiminlian Lengen (Postal Ballot), today’s training session saw twelve District Level Master Trainers imparting crucial skills to first-time female Presiding Officers and Polling Officers-I. The training focused on effectively managing polling stations during the upcoming Lok Sabha election, including hands-on experience with electronic voting machines (EVMs), Control Units, Ballot Units, VVPATs, and other voting materials in accordance with Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines to ensure fair voting practices.
District Election Officer/DC Shri Dharun Kumar personally oversaw the training proceedings. Out of the 274 polling stations in Churachandpur District, 110 will be managed by female polling personnel, with 15 special polling stations planned for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) or specified voters. Approximately 544 female polling personnel participated in the training session.
In tandem with the training, the SVEEP initiative in Churachandpur, titled ‘Wall of Democracy – Signature Campaign: I Shall Vote For Sure’, engaged students at Churachandpur College, fostering voter awareness and participation in the electoral process.