Dimapur, Jan. 11 (EMN): In connection with the forthcoming assembly elections in Nagaland, a training programme for different cells of election expenditure monitoring (EEM) was held on Jan. 11 at the Kohima deputy commissioner’s conference hall in the state’s capital town.
Addressing the gathering was the district’s election officer Rajesh Soundararajan. He said that the EEM was one of the most important aspects of elections. Once the election had been announced, monitoring would be an ongoing process till the conclusion of the polls. He said that every functionary of the various committees of the EEM has a great responsibility.
Further, the officer instructed the personnel to be conversant with all the relevant guidelines as stipulated by the commission. He requested them to work in coordination with their counterparts wherever they have been assigned and to keep in touch with their nodal officers ‘in order to give their best service for the successful conduct of the election,’ according to a DIPR update on Thur.
An assistant commissioner for Kohima, Shashank Pratap Singh, also addressed the event. The officer emphasized on ‘monitory related issues’ and the structure and functions of various committees under the EEM.
Highlighting the major legal provisions related to EEM issues, he said that carrying cash was not illegal under any law and was not ‘anathema to regular business.’ However, but if the cash is undisclosed, the Income Tax department can seize it; if it is out of illegal foreign exchange, the ED can seize it; if it is suspected to be for bribery, terror, theft, narcotics etc. authorities can seize it, and so on.
Singh elaborated also on various topics such as use of money, legal or illegal election expenses, legal provision, provision of the Indian Panel Code of 1860; election expenditure, modes of transport of cash; meeting with political parties; new expenditure monitoring machinery; monitoring of campaign through media; opening of separate bank accounts of the candidate; static surveillance teams (SST); star campaigners etc., the DIPR stated.
Bhandari
The additional deputy commissioner (ADC) of Bhandari Tiameren Chang conducted a meeting with all the heads of departments in Bhandari sub-division on Jan. 10 at the ADC’s conference hall.
The officers discussed various issues related to the forthcoming assembly elections in Nagaland. Presiding over the meeting, the ADC instructed the officers to stay in their respective posting station and perform their assigned duties once the elections are announced.
The meeting deliberated also on the forthcoming Republic Day celebrations in the sub-division. The departments have been assigned work for the event.
Updates on Thur. informed that the officers have decided to conduct a mass cleanliness drive on Jan. 24 at Bhandari town. The GBs have been entrusted to supervise their respective colony on that day, the updates informed.
During the discussions, the Public Health Engineering department informed that two main water reservoirs ‘were washed away by heavy rains due to which water is now being tapped directly from the source which needs to be looked into for more sufficient supply to the public.’
Progress of works by departments, their performance and requirements etc, were also deliberated in the meeting, the updates stated.
Mon
As a part of preparations for the forthcoming general elections in the state, a training in election expenditure monitoring was conducted on Jan. 10 in the conference hall of the deputy commissioner of Mon district.
Various teams of personnel appointed for the general elections attended the training programme. They included video surveillance, video viewing, accountants, assistant expenditure observers, flying squads, static check post teams, control room and call centres and media certification and monitoring cell, the DIPR stated in updates on Thur.
A nodal officer for election expenditure monitoring, Reny Wilfred, the sub division officer (civil) for Mon headquarters presided over the training programme. The officer explained to the gathering the roles of the various teams, the updates from the DIPR stated.
