IMPHAL, September 21: For the first time, Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) will be used in some selected Assembly Constituencies in Manipur and in this regard adequate awareness campaign about VVPATs shall be created by the district election machinery.
This was disclosed by the Commissioners of Election Commission of India (ECI) during a press conference in Imphal today.
On their arrival in Imphal on Tuesday, the ECI team led by Chief Election Commissioner Nasim Zaidi met with the various political parties who aired their grievances and concerns such as abuse of money power for gaining the favour of electors, misuse of official machinery and government resources, rush of large- scale recruitment , fairness, neutrality and competence of some officers, influence of insurgents organisation in election process, irregularities in additions and deletions in the electoral rolls and also noted their suggestions for maximum use of Webcasting and CCTV coverage on booths in vulnerable and insurgency affected areas, maximum deployment of Micro- observers, accessibility of presiding officers and polling staff for transparency in their functioning and neutrality, impartiality and unbiased to ensure all election –related officials especially at the senior levels like DEOs, RO, SSPs for polling holding free, fair and peaceful election, further the political parties suggested that a Single Phase Election must be held, announcement of election 3 months before, enforcement of MCC, removal of all unauthorised banners/posters/festoons/flags etc.
The Commission has directed the State Election Machinery to ensure effective monitoring, vigilance, comprehensive planning and discipline at all levels to instil confidence in the electorate to exercise their franchise without fear, coercion, intimidation or inducement and has also directed that a comprehensive 360 degree multi-modal Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme to be drawn up by the CEO, execution of SVEEP campaign in professional manner , engagement and participation of electors in the Summary Revision process and to organise Booth Awareness Groups( BAGs), set up all women managed polling stations, polling stations be provided with ramps and other necessary facilities.
The Commission has laid a special focus on election accessibility for all sections of the electorate especially the aged, infirm electors, persons with disabilities by providing their need based facilities.
The Commission attached highest importance to creating conductive environment for peaceful Free and fair elections at all costs.
Hence, the Commission has directed the state and district level officials to reassess the vulnerable locations and prepare a comprehensive security management plan from the grass root level upwards, web-casting and CCTVs arrangement shall be maximised and shall be done at all Check Posts, critical locations, Inter- border security posts for effective monitoring, review to ensure speedy investigation of the previous election- related offences/cases, deposition of all licensed arms, and the DEOs and SPs are instructed for intensive scrutiny of all trouble-makers, goons etc, and assess vulnerabilities in their areas arising out of issues like communal , demographic, ethnic, socio-economic, insurgencies from the election management perspective and such sensitivities should be mapped at the police-station level and detailed action planned for confidence building must be prepared and activate immediately.
