Latest circular of ECI regarding 2nd randomisation of Polling personnel and training AC wise under direct supervision of RO can be downloaded from :-

http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/CurrentElections/ECI_Instructions/ins15032011A.pdf

As explained in VC today, 2nd training may now be organised in a group of 50-75 polling parties per session in big halls from P-8 to P-5 days. These dates will be 25th April to 28th April except 27th April for 4th phase ACs and 29th April to 2nd May 2011 except 30th April for 5th phase ACs. ROs may hold EVM commissioning on 26th/ 27th April for 4th phase and 29th/ 30th April 2011. All notices to this effect must be issued on date of scrutiny to validly nominated candidates.

Replies of candidates or Political functionaries must be obtained within 24hrs

ECI has issued directions today that reply of show cause notices issued to Candidates or Political functionaries by RO / DEO for violation of Model Code of Conduct must be furnished within 24 hrs. Time allowed for replies must not be more than 24 hrs. All ROs please note.

Further, no notice or show cause should be issued by any authority other than RO or DEO. Further, as explained in video conference today, consolidated reports on such violations, along with original copy of complaint, copy of notice, replies and observations of RO must be furnished to DEO within shortest time. There should not be delay beyond three hrs from the time of receipt of replies. If there is delay due to complexity of complaint, interim report must be emailed.

Meeting of Committee constituted by CEO at district level to review preventive steps to make environment conducive for free and fair elections held

DEO Burdwan chaired the meeting, attended by SP Burdwan, ADMs and Commandants/ Assistant Commandants of CPF deployed in the district at Burdwan on 14th March 2011. ROs may review.

Shifting of Polling Stations and Auxilliary Polling Stations approved by ECI.

Approvals of our proposals for auxiliary and shifting of few polling stations in dilapidated condition received. ROs must give wide publicity to all concerned.

EVM awareness must be started from 16th April 2011

Circular on EVM awareness at GP level and Urban areas already sent to all ROs. Sector officers/ Assistant Sector Officers may be issued training EVMS immediately so that they may start EVM awareness to general public at Haats, markets, Railway Stations etc. In urban areas sector wise and in rural areas GP wise EVMs may be issued to Sectors. Services of BLOs may be utilised by sectors for the purpose but the EVM custodian will be sector officer only.

Polling Personnel randomisation to take place on 1st April 2011, instead of 3rd April 2011 decided earlier

In reference to Calendar of activities already circulated to all, please note that first randomisation of polling personnel out of total database of the district will now take place on 1st April 2011, instead of 3rd April decided earlier. Printing of appointment letters will be held at Subdivision wise and training will also be organised by donor subdivision at the office subdivision. However, 2nd randomisation will now be held on 23rd April 2011 for 4th phase ACs and 26th April 2011 for 5th phase ACs. Printing of appointment letters will have to done at district HQ centrally as it involves offices from all Subdivisions going to do poll duty in any of the AC.

Training schedule is also modified slightly. First training of Pro and P1 will be started from 13th April 2011 onwards till 20th April 2011. Second training at RO level for each AC may now be organised in batches of 50 to 60 polling parties in large halls as the days available for such training are from P-8 to p-5, leaving P-7 for EVM commissioning. In that case, each AC will take 5 to 6 batches or three days in a hall. Moreover, polling personnel will also be required to be provided transport from one Subdivision to another to attend 2nd training.

All ROs/ SDOs may please reconsider their training plans accordingly.

Some of the ROs of Sadar Subdivision not yet sent public property defacement removal certificate. Please expedite.

All public property defacements must be removed by 14th evening

I hope teams of VST cum MCC are moving with police in all Assembly Segments of the district and capturing violations of MCC related to defacement. Now, it has been directed to remove all defacement of Public places and property throughout the district within 14th March 2011 by 4 pm and report compliance in writing to OC Election. Reports received from all ROs on 13th March 2011 indicates that out of 6140 cases of public property defacement, removal of 4560 have been completed. Now, the balance number 1580 cases should be disposed off by tomorrow by 4 pm.

Circular related to this matter, taking help of police, local bodies have been sent to all ROs yesterday. Cost must be realised from the violators. All ROs, Sectors Officers must take extra efforts to comply the orders.

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.