ECI satisfied with poll preparation in state
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR

Imphal, January 29 2022: A virtual review meet-ing of district election officers (DEOs), superintendents of po-lice (SPs) of all 11 electoral dis-tricts and deputy commissioners (DCs) and SPs of the remaining five non-electoral districts was held on Friday with ECI's deputy election commissioner (DEC) Nitesh Vyas and Manipur chief electoral officer Rajesh Agraw-al on the preparedness of the upcoming Manipur Legislative Assembly election.

In a release, joint chief elec-toral officer Md S Daulat Khan informed that all the DEOs and SPs made power-point presen-tation (PPT) on preparedness of their respective district.

The DEC expressed satisfaction over the preparedness and stressed that all DEOs must regularly keep interactive sessions with all vital stakeholders like political parties and media and keep them informed of all election related information.

Further, DEC Nitesh Vyas also mentioned that exceptionally good work in the upcoming election can be chosen for Na-tional Awards to be given on National Voters' Day, 2023.In respect of COVID situation, it was highlighted by the district officials that efforts are being made to have all the polling per-sonnel vaccinated with double dose before going for poll duty.

Vaccination camps are being opened at the training centres and precautionary dose admin-istered to the polling personnel and election machinery as per the protocol, said the release.

With regard to EVM/VVPAT, the first randomisation of EVM/VVPAT has been started with the participation of political parties and it will be over by February 1 followed by the second rando-misation from February 14 and commissioning of the machines.

The New Symbol Loading Units (SLU) will also be used for loading of symbols on pi-lot basis in Manipur during the commissioning and this information has already been shared with political parties.

The process can be assessed by political parties' representatives through TV screens installed in the Commissioning Hall, it said.

The release also informed that distribution and collection of Postal Ballots to PwD and 80-plus electors are in progress since the announcement of the election schedule and till January 28, 42939 Form-12-D have been distributed, out of which 2980 persons have submitted it back.

A virtual conference on Accessible and Inclusive Elections involving all CSOs, NGOs working in the field of PwD, will be held on February 2 to scale up awareness on accessi-bility measures, the release informed, adding that central paramilitary forces have arrived for pre-poll area domination in addition to presence of expenditure observers appointed by ECI, 12 for the first Phase and eight for the 2nd Phase.

Their first visit-related works will be done through virtual mode from the date of no-tification, as commission has relaxed first physical visit in view of COVID-19 pandemic situation.

They will take up their 2nd visit physically one day before the last date of making nominations, added the release.

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