EMN
Dimapur, April 7
As part of the National Electoral Roll Purification (NERP) programme for 2016 and the Systematic Voters’ Education & Electoral Participation (SVEEP) campaign, the Chief Electoral Officer of Nagaland, Sanjay Kumar, convened a meeting with police and enforcement agencies as well as the security forces and various government employees’ associations on April 6at Hotel Japfu in Kohima town.
The chief electoral officer also met with chief officials of the security forces and discussed issues related to the ongoing National Electoral Roll Purification campaign.
Kumar said it was important for the officers and the troops to exercise their right to vote according to the Constitution of India. However, he also reminded of the need for integrity when voting. He called against misusing the right to vote through registering names at multiple places. He also requested the gathering to create a platform for the education of the public on the importance of the right to vote.
During interactions, various speakers shared their problem about security personnel being transferred and posted within a short span. In this regard, Sanjay Kumar informed them to contact the Election department and report the matter to the district election officer or the assistant election officer for inclusion of their names in the electoral roll. He also asked the Election department to incorporate the changes without delay.
Representatives from the Director General of Police, commandant of the 15th Indian Reserve Mahila Battalion, Inspector General of the Assam Rifles, commandant of the SEWAK, commandant of the Central reserve Police Force, commandant of the 164 Naga Territorial Army, commandant of the 155th Border Security Force at Chedema, commandant general of the Home Guards & Civil Defence, director of the Rajya Sainik Board, and the group commander of the National Cadet Corps attended the meeting.
Also, in his meeting with government employees, the CEO highlighted the importance of keeping the electoral roll ‘clean.’ Kumar urged the members of the associations to play a pivotal role in their respective groups. He also said that the employees’ associations were the “elite sections” responsible for sensitizing their fellow members in keeping and maintaining clean electoral rolls. This will prevent duplication and election malpractices, the chief electoral officer said during the event.
Also, challenging the senior officers and representatives of the associations, Sanjay Kumar asked them to ‘ascertain the malpractices in a more vigorous and aggressive manner so that our own government employees were not registered multiple entries.’ He added that ‘we have to sensitize our own members so as they can sensitize the lower level.’
Participating in the discussions, NCS workers’ president, Kevin Zehol suggested that the Aadhaar should be linked with electoral rolls “in order to keep the electoral rolls clean and avoid duplication of election malpractices.” He also suggested imparting quality training to block level officers and trainers.
The general secretary of the All Nagaland School Teachers’ Association Visato Koso also said that “sensitization programme” should begin at the grass-root with the help of the youth community.
Representatives from various associations talked about the importance of the Biometric system saying that it would ‘certainly eliminate the menace of proxy and multiple entries.’ They have expressed support and cooperation to the ongoing program being organized by the Election department.
Elsewhere, in Peren district, another meeting on the National Electoral Roll Purification was held in the district deputy commissioner’s office on the same day. The deputy commissioner of Peren district Peter Lichamo presided over the meeting.
In his key note address, Lichamo impressed upon the gathering to ‘go according to the guidelines’ of the Election commission of India to “avoid further confusion and problems in the near future.” He expressed concerned about the ‘eleventh hour rush’ and requested the gathering to inform the voters to correct the EPIC. He also insisted that a cent-per-cent EPIC “should be availed.” This is all about clean electoral and electoral roll purification, he said.
Also, Additional Deputy Commissioner of headquarters S Taniu said during the meeting that the National Electoral Roll Purification was a ‘sensitive issue and should be taken seriously by all in concern for the benefit of all.’
Assistant Electoral officer Nathan Konyak also explained the technicalities involved in the removal of electoral rolls, correction of errors in the electoral roll, improvement of poor-quality pictures, responsibilities of a boot level volunteers, and boot level assistants.
Administrative officers and members of nongovernmental organizations attended the event.
