Vulnerability exercise - visit to vulnerable families at their door step

VISIT OF THE DM & TEAM TO VULNERABLE VILLAGES

Election commission of India in its circular defined ‘Vulnerability’ – in the context of elections

"as the susceptibility of any voter or section of voters, whether or not living in a geographically identifiable area, to being wrongfully prevented from or influenced upon in relation to the exercise of his right to vote in a free and fair manner, through intimidation or use of undue influence or force of any kind on him." The first step in the exercise of Vulnerability Mapping has to be undertaken with immediate effect by the concerned RO, Police Officer, Sector officer to visit every Locality/ Pocket already identified as Vulnerable in the area of every Polling Station, hold widespread discussions with vulnerable people there, collect intelligence, and list the vulnerable households and families, as well as the persons and factors causing such vulnerability there.

DISTRICT MAGISTRATE SP Burdwan briefed all OCs BDOs and ROs on 11th March 2011 in district level whole day meeting and directed them to complete this confidence building exercise by 15th march.

Election machinery in Burdwan already started the initiatives. All election related officers in the District are interacting in the field, exchanging mobile numbers, assuring support to such families for free and fair exercise of franchise.

In one such visit on 13.3.11, District Magigtrate Burdwan along with Nodal ADM for the area, Subdivisional magistrate ,Returning Officer,Block Development Officer,Officer incharge of the Police Station visited the most vulnearable area of Madabdihi Police station under 261-Raina (Sc) AC. The area was also flag marched by CPF jawans for area domination and confidence building amongst the electors. The visit was started at about 10.00 am from the Polling station area of 207-Kotsimul Nimna Buniyadi Vidyalaya . District Magistrate walked through 5 booths in villages from house to house and the held wide discussion with the electors , enquired about the EPIC, Voter list ,whether they were allowed to cast their vote freely and assured all conducive enviornment for free and fair elections. On several occasions during one to one discussion important information were collected. DM and his team entered into the houses of affected people and held discussion with them sitting in their houses.

Later on the team was divided into three ,one led by DM and visited the Katsimul area, another team headed by ADM(ZP) visited the Polling station area of 206- Hodilpur F.P School Room-1 and another team led by Subdivisional Magistrate visited the Polling station area of 205-Atapur F.P School Room 1. The Visit and discussion with the electors continued upto 1 PM and after that the team assembled at Madabdihi Police station. Officer In charge Police station informed that he has got sufficient CPFs and he will execute all 10 NBWs, mostly in area we visited today in next 2 to 3 days.

The most important aspect of the visit was that phone number of the intimidated families were collected and they were provided with the mobile numbers of Returning officers, sector officers were given to them so that they can inform any untoward incident in their area instantly and action can be taken by the quickest possible means.

Response of the visit was overwhelming.

DEO & DM requested all the Returning officers/Sector Officers throughout district to intensify the visit to the vulnerable villages, to talk with vulnerable families randomly there & talking with them confidentially , to enquire about the EPIC , Voter List etc and to exchange mobile numbers and to assure them to be in touch.