Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Dec 15: Election Commission of India (ECI) is going to review the preparedness of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) and all the 22 District Election Officers (Deputy Commissioners) for the forthcoming elections to the 16th Lok Sabha in a meeting at winter capital on December 18, 2013. Besides, the Election Commission will also review the performance of the Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls.
Official sources told EXCELSIOR that Election Commission of India has deputed its Deputy Election Commissioner, Vinod Zutshi to review the preparedness of the Chief Electoral Officer of Jammu and Kashmir and all the 22 District Election Officers for the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections.
In a communiqué addressed to all the District Election Officers, the Chief Electoral Officer of J&K, Umang Narula has made it clear that non-participation of any of the District Election Officer in the meeting would be viewed very seriously and may invite stern action. Moreover, all the 22 District Election Officers have been prevented from sending their representatives.
Sources disclosed that a 35-point agenda has also been furnished to all the District Election Officers on which the Deputy Election Commissioner of India will seek information to ascertain the level of preparedness of the DEOs for the Parliament elections.
In response to a question, sources said that in the meeting the District Election Officers would apprise the Deputy Election Commissioner of India about Communication Plan, Transport Plan and Security Plan of their respective districts. They will also explain in details the arrangements for observers and number of sensitive and hypersensitive polling stations in the areas of their respective jurisdiction.
The Deputy Election Commissioner of India will also seek information vis-à-vis availability of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), number of EVMs inspected by the District Electoral Officers, number of EVMs serviced and number of EVMs required keeping in view the strength of the electorates in each district.
Sources informed that Election Commission’s representative would ascertain as to how many polling stations across Jammu and Kashmir were yet to be put on the Google map and what steps have been taken for rationalization of the polling stations. “The special strategies chalked out by the District Election Officers for missing voters and filling of the deficit of voters between 18 and 19 years of age would also come up for review during the meeting”, sources added.
Disclosing that training related information would also be an important subject, they said that all the District Electoral Officers would apprise the Deputy Election Commissioner about the number of Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) trained in the election related duties.
The District Election Officers will also furnish information pertaining to interactions held with the political parties, how many parties have posted Booth Level Agents, locations of the polling stations, district gender ratio, census gender ratio, number of Electronic Photo Identity Cards (EPICs) issued and availability of manpower for smooth conduct of elections.
Sources said that Deputy Election Commissioner would also review the performance of Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls with reference to January 1, 2014 as qualifying date. The Special Summary Revision of electoral rolls is conducted in order to make addition of fresh eligible voters, delete wrong entries and settle claims and objections so as to ensure error free electoral rolls.
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