Sat phones, street plays for LS poll
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 22 2014 :
Whereas satellites phones would be used in remote polling stations of the State in the forthcoming Lok Sabha election where means of transport and communication are extremely bad or non-reliable, street plays would be staged by popular comedians Joseph and Rangilal to encourage people's participation in the electoral process.
Talking with The Sangai Express about the State's preparation for the Lok Sabha elec-tion in his office today, Chief Electoral Officer O Nabakishore informed that BSNL has been installing 140 satellite phones at the remotest polling stations in order to establish round the clock communication with the election office.
Moreover, necessary measures have been taken to facilitate monitoring by ECI and CEO offices the process of voting and also to webcast the voting process at 150 to 200 polling stations.
Due process is on to distribute medical kits to officials detailed for election duty, said the CEO.
Stringent security measures would be put in place to ensure free and fair voting in addition to pressing into service micro observers, expenditure monitors and flying squads.
To an enquiry, the CEO said that voter ve-rifiable paper audit trail (VVPAT) may not be used in the State in the forthcoming election.
Hinting that election schedules may be an-nounced at the end of the current month or the first week of March, the CEO said that it is being considered to assign poll duty to women employees in polling stations of the valley districts.
As a part of the campaign of systematic voter education and electoral participation, calendars embossed with election messages would be distributed and students would be given note-books.
Moreover, popular comedians Joseph and Rangilal would stage election-based street plays at different places starting from the first week of March.
Notably, the CEO has already recommen-ded 75 companies of central paramilitary for- ces if the Lok Sabha election should be held in two phases.
Helicopters are also being arranged for taking and bringing polling personnel to and from remote polling stations.
With regard to the ongoing preparatory work, a joint meeting of DCs and SPs would be held on February 24.Further, another discussion programme between media persons and political parties about model code of conduct and poll expenditure would be organised very soon, added the CEO.