Election Observers along with Returning Officer for Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary constituency, Ramesh Kumar today chaired a meeting here to review overall arrangements for upcoming Lok Sabha Election in Jammu-Poonch Parliamentary Constituency. Election Observers Amit Rathore, Parwin Kumar Toppo, Chandan Chayan Guha, Subey Singh Yadav, Yogesh Kumar, Dr.Tariq Thomas, Sanwar Bharti, Andra Vamsi, Israel Watre Ingti , SSP Jammu Tejinder Singh along with Nodal Officers and other senior officers of different department were present in the meeting.Discussing the district election management plan, Returning Officer stressed that the plan has been prepared as per the guidelines of the Election Commission of India. It includes status of booth level management plan and status of training calendar with details of activities like polling station details, vulnerability mapping of polling stations, movement plan and disaster management plan etc. He also informed that the first round of the general training to polling personnel has been completed.Discussing further the vulnerability of polling stations Returning Officer highlighted that out of total 1380 polling stations in Jammu district 12 have been marked vulnerable, 169 sensitive, zero hypersensitive and 1199 as normal polling stations. Enquiring about the preparedness regarding the vulnerable and sensitive polling stations the observers highlighted the measures to be taken as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India.Giving details of the manpower deployment, Returning Officer briefed that a total of 9500 officials have been deputed with 20 % reserved manpower for poll duty. This includes 253 personnel for expenditure monitoring, 60 for video graphing, 180 as micro observers,11 zonal magistrates, 105 sector magistrate, 22 in flying squad,11 in video surveillance team and 33 in static surveillance team.On the schedule for ballot papers transmission, Kumar informed that it will be carried out in seven phases with starting date for downloading e- postal ballot paper from 29th March and end date of downloading e-postal ballot on 10th of May 2019.
On the subject of status of EVMs, Kumar highlighted that 3312 EVMs machines have been procured from Election Commission of India with equal number of VVPAT. He further informed that the first randomization of the EVMs was scheduled for 28th of March at DC Office Jammu. The training schedule for the polling personnel, zonal/Sector Magistrates and Micro Observers has been scheduled from 29th of March to 8th of April.With regard to enforcement of Model Code of Conduct in the Parliamentary constituency, Returning Officer informed that all the important measures have been taken to check and punish any sort of violations of MCC. Important measures include restriction on the printing of pamphlets, posters etc in light of section 127 A of Representation of people act 1951, a meeting has been conducted with all the representatives of all political parties and instructions have been issued to the Political parties/Contesting candidates with regard to defacement of Public property, restrictions have placed on use of loud speaker at night between 10.00 pm to 6.00 am in the district, directions have been issued for removal of all references of Ministers/Political parties on their departmental websites, Press Media have been given instructions with regard to the misuse of official medial for partisan coverage of political new and publicity regarding achievements. Besides, instructions have been given that no advertisement shall be issued in electronic and print media highlighting the achievements of political Govt at the cost of public exchequer. Commissioner, Excise and Taxation Department has been requested to monitor the production, storage and distribution of liquor during the election in order to curb the menace and illegal distribution of liquor to the electors. Rishpal Singh, Addl. District Magistrate Jammu has been appointed as the Nodal Officer for monitoring Model Code of Conduct in the district. In addition to this Flying squad teams and static surveillance teams has been deployed to monitor violations of the MCC. He also informed that the use of ‘Suvidha’ app of ECI has been highlighted through meetings, print and electronic media for the political parties and candidates to apply for permissions for conducting rallies etc.Categorising the measures taken on complaint monitoring mechanism, Returning Officer emphasised that a complaint monitoring control room has been established. Moreover, two phone numbers have been published in the news papers for the General public i.e. 1950 (Toll free) & 2571912.
Besides, the mobile app ‘cVIGIL’ has also been widely published among the General public through media. He also highlighted that voter facilitation and complaint management system has already in place and a total of 510 complaints have been disposed of as on date through the National Grievance Redressal system.Focusing on expenditure monitoring mechanism and as per the guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India, it was informed in the meeting by the Returning Officer that team of Assistant Expenditure Observers comprising of Officers from Accountant General Audit/A&E, Income Tax Departments have been appointed for each Assembly segment, in addition to this Video Viewing Teams comprising of one officer and one assistant have been appointed for two Assembly Segments and is working at PWD Guest House Gandhi Nagar Jammu, accounting team for preparing the shadow register, and video surveillance teams are also in place for all assembly segments. Expenditures monitoring cell under joint director tourism and nodal officer from the Income Tax department has also been deployed for election Expenditure Monitoring by way of seizure of unaccounted money suspected to be used in election, and submission on alternate days of the report in the prescribed format. In addition to this Director Airport Authority of India, In charge ATC and SSP Anti Hijacking, Jammu have been requested to keep the record /surveillance of all chartered aircrafts and helicopters landing and taking off from the commercial airports of the district and keep informing the District Election Officer, Jammu.It was also brought to the notice of observers that to curb the practice of paid news a Media Certification and Monitoring Committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of District Election Officer Jammu. A media monitoring team has also been setup for watching and recording all the advertisements in print or electronic Media.Throwing light on the preparedness of strong rooms for storage of EVMs, Returning Officer pointed out the locations for the same. SSP Jammu also ensured that sufficient security and other measures have been taken and are already in place. Further discussing the Transportation plan and distribution plan for all the assembly constituencies has already been set up and is in place with sufficient number of manpower deployment. Highlighting the measures taken at distribution centre it was informed that sufficient counters for EVMs/VVPATs/Other Materials shall be setup at distribution centres, special help desks will be provided at each distribution centres, refreshment counter shall be established at the dispatch centre, medical Aid facility shall be made available at each distribution centre and transport Help desk shall be also provided at the collection centres.RO also highlighted the Communication plan on the poll day which includes information dissemination from the presiding officer to the District Election Officer.
A team officers including Treasury Officer, Saddar Treasury Jammu (Nodal Officer), Chief Education Officer, Jammu and Assistant Director Handicrafts, Jammu has been constituted.Kumar also discussed the details of EVMs/VVPATs collection centre details, measures adopted for collection of EVMs in the meeting. Facilitation of polling parties at collection centres in the meeting including help desks, traffic movement, food availability for the parties, availability of medical teams, fire tenders, PA systems at collection centres and mobile toilet facility and other issues were also discussed.Returning officer also underlined the special arrangements made for the persons with disabilities. Wheel chairs with deployment of volunteers at the polling stations have been made. Provision of ramps and direct voting facility for the PWDs so that they don’t have to wait in the queue has been provided at every polling stations.Kumar also highlighted the preparedness and locations of strong rooms to the observers at the polytechnic college Jammu and MAM College Jammu.Observers also enquired about the timely submission of information on the poll day, on this the DEO informed that all sufficient measures including use of mobile apps, telephones, runners and wireless have been ensured especially in the far flung areas of the constituencies.Observers also highlighted the illegal use of liquor before and during the poll day, on this the DEO informed that dry days have been declared from 9th of April (6:00 pm) to 11th of April (6:00) pm.Inquiring about the MCC violation in the constituency the observers inquired about the status and punishment inflicted on the defaulters. On this the DEO stressed that strict implementation of MCC has been enforced in the district and the violators will be booked under the suitable provisions of the law.Observers also highlighted issues of basic facilities, timely dispatch of polling parties and conduct of mock poll. On this Kumar ensured that sufficient manpower and training has been provided to all the concerned personnel and he ensured that the polling parties will reach their destinations well in advance and the mock poll will be conducted at all the polling stations well in time.Observers, while putting up satisfaction on the present and future arrangements for the election preparedness urged all the employees deputed to election duties to work hard with dedication and to ensure successful culmination of whole process of elections.Later in the day the Observers convened a meeting with the candidates and representatives of different political parties after the allocation of symbols.Observers stressed that the proper implementation of the MCC by the candidates and political parties will be observed in letter and spirit. They also highlighted the activities to be followed and not to be followed during the MCC enforcement.Returning Officers highlighted that public notice has been issued with regard to the restrictions on the printing of pamphlets, posters etc. in light of section 127 A of Representative of People Act 1951.The printed posters should include the name of the printing firm and that of the candidate for expenditure monitoring. He also underlined that no political programme shall be carried out at the religious places.
Returning Officer also brought under the notice of the representatives of all political parties /Contesting candidates with regard to defacement of Public property.Returning Officer also highlighted that no posters/ flags shall be displayed on the public properties and private properties without the consent of the concerned. He informed that municipal authorities have identified places where the same can be displayed on chargeable basis.Observers also highlighted proper expenditure monitoring discipline by the candidates including maintenance of expenditure register.On the issue of security of EVMs Returning Officer informed that proper security arrangements have been made for the same including CCTV coverage and sealed double lock system.On the issue of replacement of EVMs Returning officer informed that the reserved EVMs will be made available with the concerned Sector and Zonal Magistrates and will be replaced soon on the event of any malfunctioning. He also informed that the vehicles carrying EVMs will be GPS enabled to track the whereabouts of the machines and no extra time will be used in the replacement of EVMs. He also informed that adequate security arrangements have been made at the strong rooms including the presence of fire tenders.Observers also stressed that the polling agents/Booth level agents stationed at every polling stations should know all the rules and procedures relation to elections and for any inquiry the candidates can go through the election handbook.On the doubts regarding the permission of vehicles for political activities it was informed in the meeting that for the assembly segment the permission can be sought from the ARO concerned and for the district level the permission can be granted from the Additional District Magistrate Jammu.On the query relating to the expenditure, the Returning officer pointed out that the rate list has been notified and approved and printed in the print media and is also available at the DC office.It was also informed in the meeting that the contacts of the observers has already been published and were also shared to all the representatives of the political parties during the meeting.Returning Officer also guided the representative to make full use of mobile apps of Election Commission of India like ‘Suvidha’ and ’cVIGIL’ app for hassle free permissions and for reporting any incidents.Returning Officer also informed the representatives about the media certification committee and highlighted that proper permission should be taken from the said committee for the media coverage.Observers also brought to the notice of the candidates that reserved EVMs will not be placed along with the regular/used EVMs and they will be kept at different strong rooms.At the end observers soug.