District Election Officer (DEO) Vijaya Jadhav briefed the officials and personnel assigned to the counting duties for the upcoming Giridih Lok Sabha constituency election on June 4, 2024. Senior officials from the Election Department, including Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC) Sandeep Kumar, Assistant Returning Officer (ARO) Mohammad Mumtaz Ansari, and Bermo SDO Ashok Kumar, among others, were present.
Jadhav emphasized the importance of adhering to the counting work order, which clearly defines the responsibilities of all involved officials and personnel. She stressed the necessity of fulfilling these duties meticulously to avoid any errors. Each team was made aware of their specific tasks, and all were instructed to reach the counting center on time.
Access to the counting center will be strictly regulated, requiring identification cards, which will be provided by the personnel cell at the center. Counting assistants, supervisors, and micro-observers will receive their appointment and ID cards on-site. Refreshments and water will be available, ensuring everyone has breakfast before reporting to their stations. To ensure accuracy, distinct officials will verify the vote counts for each assembly area before submitting the data to the Returning Officer (RO). Specific officials have been appointed for different assembly constituencies, such as DTO Vandana Shejwalkar for Baghmara and Tundi, and DSO Shalini Khalko for Dumri and Giridih.
The DEO provided specific instructions for pre-counting activities, including the transportation of postal ballots from the district treasury vault to the counting hall, the videography of the entire process, and ensuring continuous electricity supply in all vaults on counting day. Notably the counting center will be under strict surveillance with CCTV and video monitoring. Certain items, such as mobile phones, matches, lighters, water bottles, tobacco, cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, and chewing gum, are prohibited. Only authorized personnel are allowed entry with specific items.
Also various other critical points were discussed, and necessary instructions were provided. Present at the briefing were District Education Officer Jagarnath Lohra, District Education Superintendent Atul Choubey, District Cooperative Officer Shweta Gudiya, District Public Relations Officer Shaket Kumar Pandey, Assistant Director of Social Security Piyush, and Assistant Public Relations Officer Avinash Kumar Singh, among others.