Stern action if bureaucrats in office indulge in petty politics: Rawat

Chhattisgarh for first time will witness one polling centre fully operated by women, said Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat while briefing media on meetings held by full Commission in State for last two days here at Raipur, capital city.

Rawat said that stern action would be taken against the administrative officials in post indulging in backing the ruling or any other party. They should be impartial.

On bureaucrats joining politics, he said Commission is aware, when came to know about Raipur, so panel was called for appointment. Rawat said Commission is monitoring all the developments. State Govt has been instructed to ensure peaceful, fair and credible election in State and remove all apprehension from minds of people.

Rawat said for first time Accessibility Observer would be appointed, apart from the regular observers to ensure that differently-able voters are provided all facilities to cast their vote without any hindrance.

Announcing new initiatives, CEC said, “cVIGIL election App which was implemented on pilot basis in Bangalore during Karnataka election is being introduced in the Chhattisgarh. Citizens can report the violation of the model conduct of conduct for election through photographs or videos, which can be uploaded immediately.” The follow up is provided on the action taken to the complainant. If a case is made against any high profile person then, complainant can hide his identity and mobile number but would be denied feedback instead would get it through media, said Chief Election Commissioner O P Rawat.

He said that Election Atlas (GIS-Map) of 90 assembly constituencies have been made having PC layer, AC layer, polling centre layer, among other details are available. The other new IT application to be used in C’garh poll is ‘Samadhaan’ which is a public complaint resolution and monitoring system where it provides a platform for the political parties, candidates, civil societies, concerns, complaints and suggestions. One can use website, e-mail, letter, fax, SMS, call centre (1950) among other sources to register election related issues.

Suvidha is one single window system where within 24 hours, for candidate and political parties requires permission for meeting, rallies, vehicles, temporary election office, loudspeaker among others. The system from sub division to each Registration Officer level the permission is provided within 24 hours. For helicopter use/landing and helipad permission would be provided in minimum 36 hours.

Sugham is for vehicle management where the demand letter for vehicle acquisition, distribution and address including the acquisition, driver and owner mobile number, bank details, transfer of vehicles from one district to other and clearance of payment is made digitally.

Rawat said that Chhattisgarh ahs 90 seats out of which 51 are general 10 are Scheduled Caste reserved and 29 are Scheduled Tribe reserved seats and till July 31 the total electors is 181 lakh out of which 91.46 lakh are men, 90.32 are women while 831 are third gender and is increase is service voter which is 12931.

On law and order, CEC said that state has recorded slow action against the Non-bailable warrant (NBW) and asked to expedite it. Inspection of jails has been directed on regular basis so that no criminal has mobile phones so that he can influence the election process while remaining in four walls of said few political parties demanded linking of voter ID with aadhar number and as per demand of political parties the adding of names has been extended to further seven days.

On Naxal affected areas, the state government has been directed to provide facilities for free treatment of polling parties and air-ambulance service in case of any eventuality. Additional to it the administration would also ensure that all the polling parties accompany the EVM, in areas where EVMs are taken to polling centres by helicopter. Earlier, EVMs are shifted by polling parties were being left behind to be lifted afterwards. In areas affected by elephant menace, forest department would coordinate so that polling parties reach and return safely.

On electoral list anomalies, Rawat said that it is reason that Commission had digitalized every process so that it can be eliminated and house to house verification is also done to ascertain now with photograph one can be easily identified also. Software was tested in West Bengal and Karnataka, which is being improvised which helps in providing seamless electoral roll.