Election Model Code of Conduct : Govt. Scheme and Welfare Programmes
Date : 14th January 2017

No.4/56/ELEC/PR/SAE-2017: The Election commission of India (ECl) vide press Notes No.ECltPNlll2olT & No. ECI/PN/2/2017 dated 0410112017has announced 2(two) phases of Poll Schedule for the General Elections to the 11th Manipur Legislative Assembly and with the announcement of Election schedule by the Election Commission, the Model Code of Conduct came into effect w.e.f. 4in January,2017 and applies to the whole of Manipur State and applicable to all candidates, political parties, the State and Union Government as far as Manipur State is concerned'

A. On Govt. Scheme and Welfare Programmes:

1. The following types of existing works can be continued by the government agencies without reference to the Election Commission after the Model Code of Conduct comes into force:

a. Work-projects that have actually started on the ground after obtaining all necessary sanctions;

b. Beneficiary-projects where specific beneficiaries by name have been identified before coming of the Model Code of Conduct into force;

c. Registered beneficiaries of NREGA may be covered under existing projects. New projects under NREGA that may be mandated under the provisions of the Act may be taken up only if it is for the already registered beneficiaries and the project is already listed in the approved and sanctioned shelf of projects for which funds are also already earmarked

2. There shall be no bar to release of funds for the completed portion of any work subject to observance of laid down procedures and concurrence of finance department.

3. The following type of new works (whether beneficiary or work oriented) that fulfill all the following conditions before Model Code of Conduct comes into effect, can be taken up under intimation to the commission.

a. Full funding has been tied up. b. Administrative, technical and financial sanctions have been obtained c. Tender has been floated, evaluated and awarded and

d. There is contractual obligation to start and end the work within a given time frame and failing which there is an obligation to impose penalty on the contractor

e. In case of any of the above conditions not being met in such cases prior approval of the Commission shall be sought and obtained.

4. Global tenders already floated, can be evaluated and finalized where any time limits are specified for such purpose'

5. Tenders other than global tenders, that are already floated may be evaluated but not finalized without prior approval of the Commission. lf they are not already floated, they shall not be floated without prior approval of the Commission.

6. Commission invariably takes a humanitarian view on the work that are necessitated due to man-made or natural calamities'

a. Ex-gratia payments and gratuitous relief in the aftermath of a disaster can be given directly to the persons affected at the current rates/scales of assistance presently in force, under intimation to the Commission. No change in the extant and prescribed scales of payments, however, shall be made in the existing rates/scales without prior permission of the Commission'

b. Payment directly to the hospitals from CM's/PM's Relief Fund, in lieu of direct cash payment to individual patients (beneficiaries) will be permissible without reference to the Commission.

c. Emergent relief works and measures that are aimed to mitigate the hardships, directly and solely, of the persons affected in a disaster may be taken up under intimation to the Commission.

d. However, new works that may be necessitated by way of preventive measures to mitigate the likely effects of natural disasters like repair of embankments, water channels etc, can be taken up only with prior permission of the Commission.

e. Also. an area shall not be declared droughVflood affected or any such calamity affected without prior approval of the Commission. The extent of area already declared to be calamity-effected cannot be expanded without prior approval of the Commission.

f. Similarly, any selective assistance to a group of persons from the PM's or the CM's Relief Fund will require prior approval of the Commission'

7. The following type of activities will require prior permission of the Commission:

a. New works and project cannot be taken up from discretionary funds of whatever nature. Discretionary fund, in this context, includes funds, which are provided for in the budget in a generic manner and for which no identified and sanctioned project exists prior to Model Code of Conduct coming into effect.

b. Proposals for revival of sick PSUs, governmental take over of enterprises etc. (or any policy decision on similar lines) cannot be taken up'

c. Fresh auctions of liquor vends etc. cannot be held even if the annual auction time falls within the Model Code of Conduct period. Where necessary, the government should make interim arrangements as provided in their respective laws.

d. Area of operation of any existing project/schemeiprogramme can not be extended or exPanded.

e. No land allocation shall be made by the government to any entity, whether individual or an enterprise'

f. Signing a MOU or an agreement where the government is a party will also require prior clearance by the Commission.

B. Regular recruitmentiappointment or promotion through the UPSC, State public Service Commissions or the Staff Selection Commission or any other statutory authority can continue. Recruitments through non-statutory bodies, will require prior clearance of the Commission'

9. While starting any work (including any relief work) or developmental activity no formal function shall be held involving any politicalfunctionary.As a matter of good practice, normal functions and publicity even with the presence of official functionaries should be kept to the minimum.

10. Where works are to be undertaken orfunctions are to be held in fulfillment of international commitments, prior concurrence of the Commission shall be taken.

11. All Government of India references to the Election Commission of India shall be made preferably through the Cabinet Secretariat. ln so far as reference from State Governments is concerned, the same shall be made to the Election Commission of India through the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state concerned.

B. Samadhan: lt is a Public Grievance Redressal System used in connection with Revision of Electoral Rolls and conduct of Elections. Every complain received both online or offline, is capture in this application software. Since its use in the state last month, 361 complaints have been registered out of which 336 have been disposed of and 25 are pending .

(Vivek Kumar Dewangan)
Chief Electoral Officer, Manipur