The State Government has begun preparations for the ensuing Assembly elections, announcement for which by the Election Commission of India is likely in the last week of October. The Cabinet election department of the Government and the chief electoral officer’s office have been holding regular meetings and giving instructions to senior officials in districts on various matters.
The process of electoral roll revision is also going on and the final electoral roll will be published on October 12. The electoral roll is being revised and the public complaints regarding issues in the roll are also being rectified. After the finalisation of the electoral roll, approval will be taken by the ECI.
The CEO office has also asked the health department to prepare medical plan for all polling booths during the elections. The medical plan would enable authorities to tackle any untoward incidents. This will also include Air Ambulances that will be deployed for contingency situations. On the directions of the CEO office the DCs across State have started holding meetings with different cells of election. Ranchi deputy commissioner Rai Mahimapat Ray held a meeting with nodal officers and all election officers here on Wednesday, where he reviewed the works going on for elections and gave important directions to them.
While reviewing the preparations before the election notification is issued, the district election officer said that the vulnerability mapping of all the booths is very important. The officers need to submit a report by 18 October after finding out whether the voters are not being negatively affected for voting. The DC also asked all returning officers to prepare communication plan. He said that at least five persons should be there in a polling booth, with whom voters can communicate. He also asked all the ROs to complete marking of VIP voters.
While directing to prepare cluster management plan, the DC directed to ensure the assured minimum facility in the booths. He asked to ensure electricity, water, toilets, mobile charging, food arrangements by various mother committees. He instructed the civil surgeon to arrange for a medical facility on the cluster. Reviewing the SVEEP cell, the Deputy Commissioner asked to speed up activities for voter awareness. He directed to give the information of necessary documents for enrolment in electoral roll through hoardings. The DC asked all ROs to arrange SVEEP painting at the polling booths. Ray reviewed information given to voters from Pragya Kendras, Chowkidar Parade, Model Booth List, training to policemen.
The district election officer gave necessary instructions after reviewing the identification of disabled voters, booth management plan, matters related to model code of conduct, meeting with political parties, voter helpline number 1950, training to BLO etc. He gave the direction of conducting the training of Sector Magistrate batch-wise.
In the meeting, Computer Cell / IT Cell, Single Window Cell, Vehicle and Root Chart Cell, EVM Ballot Paper, Paper Seal and Postal Ballot and EDC Cell, District Contact Center, SMS Monitoring and Pol-Day Communication Plan, Observer Cell were present. A detailed review of the election preparations for the expenditure audit of Koshang and PWD Koshang has been done and necessary guidelines were given.