E Atlas mobile app
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 18 2019: E Atlas mobile app which is being used for the first time by the Chief Electoral Officer Manipur in the 17th Lok Sabha election, has contributed immensely in ensuring that officials concerned are informed and able to attend or replace defunct EVMs or VVPATs.

According to an official source, the said mobile app was able to avoid many inconveniences which the polling officials and election machinery might have encountered during the Inner (1562 Polling Stations) and Outer (1300 Polling Stations) election.

With the help of the app, the polling officials were able to identify malfunctioning EVMs and VVPATs during the mock polls (before the real election) and relay the necessary information to the election machinery.

Based on the message alert received through the app from the numerous Polling Stations, the election machineries were able to rush to the concerned Polling Stations and rectify the malfunctioning machines.

The app also helped in alerting the authority concerned about any untoward incidents at the Polling Stations, the source added.

Informing that all the Polling Stations in the State are GIS mapped, the source mentioned that in case of any incident, the CEO, DCs and Control room are alerted through mobile phone immediately.

The app was developed as a collaboration between North Eastern Space Application Centre and Manipur Remote Sensing Application Centre, the source added.

The source continued that the alert messages from the app was also monitored in realtime on a dashboard and added that swift action was possible regarding the incident which occurred at two Polling Stations at Keirao AC today due to the alert from the app which also included photos.

Informing that the polling officials were given prior training regarding the usage of the app before the election, the source mentioned that polling personnel used the app at 1256 out of 1300 Polling Stations (Inner) in real time.

Further explaining that many potential disaster due to malfunctioning EVMs and VVPATs were avoided today due to the app, the source conveyed that the app also helped in sounding the end of the election/poll.

On the other hand, another app called Poll Star was also used during the election through which real time information regarding the election proceedings could be obtained from the presiding officers.

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