Criticism of EVMs similar to that of dams built in 1950s: CEC

JAIPUR: Comparing the criticism of electronic voting machines (EVMs) with that of the criticism done about dams built in the 1950s, chief election commissioner (CEC) Sunil Arora on Friday said GPS-enabled vehicles would be used for the transportation of EVMs, while raising concern over low turnout in some districts in the past elections apart from registration of first-time voters and turnout of women voters.

Quoting the experts, Arora also said that the criticism of EVMs were termed by them as "very cheap talk".

Taking a dig at the critics of the EVMs during an event a the Manipal University on Friday, Arora said: "In the the 1950s, when the dams and powerplants were constructed, during that time as well there were criticisms in Punjab and Haryana. Many said that the dams were consuming the power of the river water. The criticism of the EVMs has reached the same level, but in a more sophisticated way."

He also added that when a political party wins an election, it calls the machines safe. However, when it loses they become critical about it.

"A highly qualified team of IIT has checked the EVMs. So, when there are criticisms of these machines, the experts term it as a 'very cheap talk'."

Talking about the safety of the EVMs, highlighting the incident of EVMs dropping on the road during assembly election, he said: “We have to do streamlining of the last-mile transportation. So, this time we have decided to put GPS even for the last-mile transportation. There will be a control room from where the movement can be tracked at all steps.”

Arora reviewed the preparedness of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state on Friday during his two-day day visit to Jaipur.

During a meeting with the officials of the office of chief electoral officer, Arora raised concern over male-female ratio on the electoral roll and said it was less than the census. "I have directed the officials that they should make efforts to increase the number of first-time or young voters (18-19 age-group) and women voters as well," said Arora.

"I have asked them to brief us about the specific efforts made to increase the numbers in 4-5 districts. We have also asked them to identify those districts, where there has been low turnout in 2014 Lok Sabha election and the last assembly election," he added.

Arora also said: "They should find out the reason for this. I have also asked them to brief us about the awareness programmes which were organised in these districts."