Ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Sunil Arora, Chief Election commissioner of India on Monday reviewed the election preparedness of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh with top officers of the two states and UT.
The Commission began the review with a meeting with the Chief Electoral Officers of Punjab, Haryana and UT of Chandigarh and discussed multifarious issues related to provision of Assured Minimum Facilities (AMFs) at the Polling Stations, strengthening of manpower and infrastructure of CEO’s offices, filling up of all vacant positions of elections functionaries at the field level, availability of EVMs/VVPATs and other election material, adequate budget provisions etc.
The Chief Electoral officers of Punjab, Haryana and UT of Chandigarh also briefed the Chief Election commissioner (CEC) about the progress of Special Summary Revision, Voter Helpline (1950) and other IT related Applications.
This was followed by a comprehensive discussion with the Chief Secretary, DGP, Home Secretary and other senior Officials of Punjab and Haryana, as also with the Advisor to Administrator and other senior officials of Union Territory of Chandigarh on the various election related arrangements to be secured for the smooth and peaceful conduct of elections a free, fair, inclusive, participative and credible manner.
Chief Election Commissioner directed the CEOs to ensure that all Contact Centres with a uniform number –‘ 1950’ shall be made operational as a single point contact for all election related information and facilitation to voters. It was also directed that urgent and time-bound action must be taken to ensure the availability of Assured Minimum Facilities (AMFs) at every polling station for the convenience and facilitation of the voters.
The CEC also emphasized the urgent need to create a comprehensive data base of PwD voters along with their PS-wise mapping to ensure that adequate assistance is provided to all PwD voters on day of Poll, which is very important to realize the Commission’s motto of ‘No Voter to be Left Behind’. The Chief Election Commissioner directed that forthcoming Lok Sabha Elections should be made most friendly for voters and all necessary facilitations should be provided specially to Third gender, Persons with disability and senior citizens.
The review meeting was attended by senior officers of ECI, Umesh Sinha, Senior Deputy Election Commissioner, Dhirendra Ojha, Director General and Nikhil Kumar, Director.
EVMs TAMPER PROOF, SAYS CEC
Earlier, Arora said that electronic voting machines were tamper-proof and an expert committee was looking after their functioning.
There is absolutely nothing to doubt about the integrity of the system, the CEC said while addressing a gathering at the inauguration of the new academic session of the Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) here.
“Since there are a galaxy of technocrats sitting here, I must inform you that the entire functioning of EVMs (electronic voting machines) is being looked after by a highly-qualified technical committee,” Arora said.
The members of the committee are not the kind who can be approached, influenced, coaxed by anybody, Arora said, asserting that EVMs cannot be tampered with.
…Every citizen of India should know that this is not a machine that can be tampered. There is difference between tampering and malfunctioning. Any machine can malfunction. You purchase a new car, it can malfunction within a week…, he said.
The Election Commission holds the world’s largest election, Arora said, adding, in all humility, we see ourselves as the conscience keeper of the democratic process of the nation .
He said, It goes to the credit of the founding fathers of the Indian Constitution to make universal adult franchise the basis of elections. They also realised the value of an autonomous Election Commission .
The CEC was speaking on the topic The Road Ahead-Opportunities and Challenges.