Anticipating the sweltering heat forecasted by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on the pivotal polling day of June 1, 2024, for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Punjab, the state's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sibin C on Monday issued a comprehensive advisory to all Deputy Commissioners-cum-District Election Officers to ensure the welfare and safety of polling staff amidst the daunting prospect of a summer heatwave.
The CEO has asked the concerned to implement special measures for the welfare of polling staff at the training venue, dispersal centres, polling stations and collection centres — including providing shade, drinking water, waiting area, good quality toilets; besides timely distribution of honorarium to the polling staff.
Emphasizing adherence to the Election Commission of India (ECI) guidelines, the CEO directed DCs to arrange for the comfort and safety of polling staff during the electoral process. With polling scheduled for June 1, 2024, at the peak of the summer season, DCs were instructed to mitigate heat stroke risks by providing shade, drinking water, waiting areas, and quality toilets at training venues, dispersal centers, polling stations, and collection centers.
Furthermore, provisions for medicines (ORS) and para-medical staff were mandated at all venues. Systematic arrangements with sufficient counters, staff, signage, coolers, refreshments, and public address systems were deemed essential. Transport facilities were required for polling staff to return home post-duty.
DCs were directed to issue written instructions for depositing election material and ensure adequate facilities at polling stations, including bedding, refreshments, toilets, and medical services. Given the possibility of late voter turnout due to heat warnings, electricity arrangements for lighting at polling stations for polling staff, micro observers as well as security staff (Both State Police and CAPF) were also emphasized.
In the letter, the officers were asked to ensure suitable arrangements for food of polling parties where the polling station is located other than schools. The CEO stressed that due to heat wave warning by IMD, during polling day, the voters may turn up late in the polling stations, with the possibility of long queues after 6 pm, all DCs must also make adequate electricity arrangements for lighting at the Polling stations.
Timely distribution of honorarium to polling staff, micro observers as well as security staff (Both State Police and CAPF) with no complaints of late distribution; and immediate medical treatment for any election-related accidents were highlighted. Special consideration for exempted categories of staff and deployment of women staff as per ECI guidelines were stressed. The couple cases, where small children and old aged and diseased people are left along in the home, may be considered sympathetically, the CEO said in the letter to DCs.
Additionally, measures were suggested for election staff to exercise their voting rights conveniently. “All the election staff deployed on election duty should be provided with sufficient number of forms for EDC (Election Duty Certificate) and PB (Postal Ballots) and their voting through Voter Facilitation Centres should be ensured in time so that the election staff can exercise the democratic rights,” he added.
