Election Preparedness meetings at Sub-divisions - some clarifications

I have completed Sub divisional meetings with SDOs/ BDOs/ EROs and SDPOs at Kalyani, Ranaghat and Tehatta. Meeting for Sadar Subdivision is rescheduled on 27th March 2009 at 12.00 hrs at Collectorate.

Some of the tips/ clarifications based on feedback in these meetings :-

• Communication Network should be tested two three times before 1st April 2009.
• Wherever there is shadow mobile area is detected, switch over to the mobile provider whose service is available. It means, BLO may be motivated to arrange Sim card which works. In case of Karimpur 1, Karimpur 2, Krishganj areas along border, cost of Sim can be considered to reimbursed to BLOs, only in parts where there is shadow zone. This is better and cheap alternative than RT sets/ satellite phone.
• Splitting of Electoral Rolls for auxiliary should be done carefully and equitably. In a few cases, it is noted that while splitting the rolls section wise, number of electors in main booth and auxiliary comes out to be 1/3rd and 2/3rd. For example, out of 1800 total electors, auxiliary contains 700 while main contains 1100. This will be of no use to complete the polling in time. Please review and ensure that almost equitable distribution of voters is done, with all members of family at the same booth. However, supplement can be kept with one of the booth, irrespective of family household number.
• There are some primary school rooms with only single door. In all such cases, a temporary shade in front of room can be erected having two entrances. This shade will act as holding area in front of polling station and minimise the problems and inconvenience to electors.
• EPICs distributed can be sample verified by sector officers at home to ensure that all EPICs distributed are in possession of actual holder.
• Sector officers should be in place immediately. Wherever there is shortage of sector officers, number of sectors can be reduced in such a way that each sector caters to not more than 10 Polling Station Locations (PSLs). Maximum number of booths including auxiliary can be 16 in such cases, provided the PSLs are not located in remote/ inaccessible areas. On an average number of sectors in each AC can be number of PSL/10.
• MCC team can be formed Police Station wise and hired video/ digital camera can be kept at each block/ subdivision to capture election events.
• Trainings to teachers can be organised on holidays and that of Govt employees and others on working days. This will solve the problem related to scarcity of EVM.
• Vulnerability mapping must be done jointly by Sector Officers and Police officers and must invariable mention the name of the persons/ factors attributing to vulnerability.
• All electoral roll complaints must be disposed off by replying to the complainants.