Month: March 2019

Gangtok, 31 Mar (IPR): As per the guidelines of Election Commission of India, the second randomization of EVMs and VVPATs for of 13 Assembly Constituencies including Sangha and Sikkim Parliamentary Constituency will be conducted at the Office of District Election Officer (East)/Returning Officer on 1st April, 2019 at 10 A.M.

District Election Officer (DEO, East)/Returning Officer, Shri Kapil Meena, informed that the randomization will be carried through EMS Software in the presence of General Observers for Assembly Constituencies and Parliamentary Constituencies, District NIC Officials, contesting candidates and representatives of Political Parties. 

Shri Meena requested all contesting candidates or their representatives to witness randomization process on April 1 (Monday) and also to participate in EVM/VVPATs commissioning process.

The purpose of second randomization of EVMs and VVPATs is to allocate EVMs and VVPATs randomly to Polling stations for Assembly Constituency and Parliamentary Constituency.

After the allocation of EVMs and VVPATs for each Polling Station, the final list of CU, BU and VVPATs with details, identified machine numbers allocated to Assembly Constituency and Parliamentary Constituency will be handed over to all the Contesting Candidates and Political Parties.

The randomization of EVMs and VVPATs will be followed by preparation/commissioning of all machines which are presently stocked at Strong Room built at Biraspati Parasi Senior Secondary School located at Marchak, Ranipool under strict security vigil.

The DEO further informed that once the commissioning is commenced then only authorised people are allowed to enter the strong room premises. The commissioning will commenced on 2nd April at 9 A.M which will be have first preparation of all polling and reserve machines to be used for Parliamentary election and then for all Assembly Constituencies of East district.

All candidates of their authorized agents may witness the commissioning process wherein they will be allowed to do mock poll on the machines. A team of qualified BEL engineers have arrived in the district to supervise and assist the EMV/VVPATs commissioning process.

Meanwhile, briefing cum training was also conducted in DAC Conference Hall to those officials and staffs who will be involved during the commissioning process of EMV/VVPATs. The training programme was also attended by BEL engineers.

Gyalshing, 31 Mar (IPR): Police Observer for Sikkim, Shri. Naveen Arora, IPS, arrived at Gyalshing today. Accompanied by SP West, Shri. Tenzing Loden Lepcha, and ADC (W), Shri. Karma L. Lepcha, the Police Observer (PO) visited the Control Room and had a detailed discussions with the Nodal Officers in regards to the Election Preparedness of the District. He interacted with the SSB Officials in regards to their respective security measures in the Kyongsa Strong Room where they have been deployed and stationed. 

He also interacted with the officials of District MCMC and the Expenditure Team. Later, he visited the two ‘Pink’ Polling Booths inside the Kyongsa Girls Senior Secondary School which are to be manned by Women Polling Officials and specifically designated for Women Voters.

Gyalshing, 31 Mar (IPR): The meeting of all the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and NSS volunteers for the sensitization on the rights of Persons With Disabilities (PwD) voters and the various facilities that are to be provided in polling station was conducted today here at the conference hall of West District Zilla Panchayat, Kyongsha.

The meeting was presided over by Returning Officer(RO) – Cum- District Election Officer(DEO), Shri. Karma R. Bonpo, IAS accompanied by Shri. Karma Loday Lepcha, ADC(W); Smt. Tashi Choden Bhutia, Jt. Sec., (CEO); Shri. Tushar G. Nikhare, IAS, SDM (HQ) and Smt. Bhumika Pradhan, Nodal Officer (Model Polling Stations).

Addressing the gathering, Returning Officer, Mr. Bonpo, explained the key responsibilities and task of the BLOs during the election period and the polling day. They have been asked to submit the report timely to the control room and follow the instructions of Election Commission of India strictly. He added that all the BLOs must inform the sector magistrate immediately in exercise of any unusual activities occurs in the premises of polling booth.

The RO also informed that the polling parties must compulsory stay in their respective polling stations.

At the onset, Shri. Tushar Nikhare, emphasise upon the 100% distribution of photo voters slip before 5th of April 2019. In all 8 Assembly Constituencies total 19 polling stations are provided with the wheelchairs and vehicles for the comfortability of PwD voters. He directed all BLOs to be present in their respective polling station before reaching the presiding officers and assist them for the basic needful.

In her address, Jt. CEO informed the student volunteers about their role in assisting the PWDs on polling day as well as setting up of the facilitation centres.

Also Smt. Bhumika Pradhan, Nodal Officer for Model Polling Station informed about various activities planned by District Administration to increase the female voting percentage as well as setting up of all women six polling stations.

Namchi, 31 Mar (IPR): South District Superintendent of Police, Mr. Manish Verma, updated regarding the security arrangements for the upcoming General Elections 2019.

In view, to conduct free and fair poll in the district, the Police Department has given ample importance on maintenance of law and order. He informed that the district has a total of 160 Polling Stations out of which 30 number has been identified as critical.

With regards to this, a highly structured security measures has been arranged so as to ensure the well-being of man and materials engaged in election duty alongside creating a harmonious atmosphere wherein everyone can smoothly exercise their right.

Mr. Verma added that adequate number of Central Paramilitary Forces, state police force has been deployed in all the polling stations including at the identified critical polling stations in the district. He also updated that till date no complaint regarding violation of Model Code of Conduct has been registered.

Additionally, ample security measures has already been activated at several nakas and that 24 X 7 vehicle checking, regular night patrolling, monitoring the naka bandi is being done by police officials.

The SP alongside ASP (South), Mr. S.D. Sangderpa, also initiated flag march at Police Stations, Sub-Division and District level with the aim to generate a sense of security and confidence building.

Till date two flag march has been conducted, the previous march commenced from Namchi to Majhitar via Nandugoan, Jorethang Bazaar and the recent district level was carried out on 30th March which started off from Bhanjang to Mamring.

Mr. Verma also mentioned that apart from the entire bazaars, the vulnerable hamlets route march has been executed and added that South district police department are well prepared to undertake any anti-social activities which may disturb the election process.

Moreover, SP Mr. Verma appealed to all the general public of the district to celebrate this biggest festival of democracy in a peaceful and cordial manner.

Namchi, 31 Mar (IPR): General Observer for parliamentary constituency (South/West), Mr. Pankaj Agarwal (IAS), Transport Commissioner Haryana convened a meeting of all the sector magistrates and nodal officers at the chamber of DC (South), Mr. Ragul K., today. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the various issues regarding the smooth conduct of the upcoming General Elections, 2019.

Addressing the meeting, the GO took detailed stock of the preparedness relating to elections in the south district. The observer emphasized on the importance of the transport required for people with disability voters, he also discussed the route map with the concerned officials regarding the transportation of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).

Regarding the IT Cell, Mr. Agarwal directed the NIC Department to impart ample awareness on cVIGIL, Suvidha application along with generating sufficient amount of awareness on the voter’s helpline of the district. He also asked the concerned officials to submit report assigned to them and also enquired on any violation of Model Code of Conduct, Media Certification and Monitoring Committee submission of Postal ballots, randomization of EVMs and on many more election related matters.

Additionally, the observer also directed the officials to carry out with diligence the various election related work so as to ensure that the elections is free, fair, transparent and inclusive.

Returning Officer Mr. Ragul K gave a brief update of election preparedness in the south district including the 10 women and 30 critical polling stations apart from various other election related plans and procedures. In addition, the RO also informed the observer about the security measures undertaken to guard these places.

Mangan, 31 Mar (IPR): Under the guidance of General Observer, North District, Dr. Pratibha Singh, IAS, and District Election officer-cum- Returning Officer, North, Shri Raj Yadav, IAS, the micro observers of the district were imparted training here at conference hall of District Administrative Centre, Mangan today. Altogether 10 micro observers underwent the training.

Master Trainer-cum-SDM, Chungthang, Shri Subash Ghimirey explained the key responsibilities and task of the micro observers during the training. The micro observers have been made aware of EVM, ballot unit, control unit, presiding officer and polling officers of the polling team, voter’s slip, mock poll and other process.

General Observer, Dr. Singh, has instructed all the micro observers to discharge the responsibility vested on them seriously. They have been asked to submit report timely, while strictly following the instructions of the Election Commission of India.

The GO said that the micro observers have important responsibility in the smooth conduct of the polls. Micro observers should be well conversant with the laws and rules related to election conduct on poll day. They should have each & every information of the polling station on the polling day.

“If there is any unusual event then the information should immediately be given on phone to the GO,” she said.

The District Election Officer-cum– Returning Officer told the micro observers that they have been deputed in critical/sensitive polling stations to observe all the process at the polling booths on the polling day from beginning to the end. And then, information on any unusual events should be given to the general observer.

Gyalshing, 30 Mar (IPR): A coordination meeting with the Sector Magistrates and the District Election Officer and General Observer (GO) was conducted at the Conference Hall of DAC, Rabdentse. The meeting was chaired by Shri. Karma R. Bonpo, DEO-cum-DC (W); Shri. Faisal Aftab, G. O. West; Shri. Karma L. Lepcha, ADC West and Shri. P. W. Lepcha, State Nodal Officer (EVM & VVPAT).

The meeting was called by the General Observer to understand the ground reality of the conditions of the Polling Stations in their respective sectors.

Shri. Faisal Aftab interacted with the Sector Magistrates and Nodal Officers in regards to the preparation of the General Elections scheduled to take place on 11.4.19. He enquired the Sector Magistrates about the various basic facilities to be available at their respective Polling Stations and also the Critical Polling Stations in their respective areas.

The GO asked the SDMs to prepare list of people bound down under CrPC 107,village wise, so that their activities can be monitored. GO also asked SMs to get the list of PWDs polling station wise.

The RO directed the Sector Magistrates on the stationing of the Reserve EVMs and VVPATs which is to be stationed at Government Buildings only. He further asked the Sector Magistrates to follow the MCC and the designation of a specific room for the EVMs and VVPATs machines and the room is to be sealed and opened in front of the Candidates prior to the day of Polls.

He also advised the Sector Magistrates to be in touch with the Booth Level Officers and work together. He also briefed about the procedure to be followed while carrying out the replacement of EVMs in case of any problems with the machines. He mentioned about the reserved teams which would be attached to the 19 Sector Magistrates along with reserved vehicles.

The GO also mentioned that on the day of the poll within 200 meters of the polling stations no flags, posters, batches, t-shirts to be shown or worn by public and all Party offices to be closed. He also asked the Sector Magistrates to sensitize about it to all public prior to the day of polling. 

Mrs. Bhumika Pradhan, Nodal Officer for Model Polling station & PWD briefed the gathering about various preparations made towards all women polling station as well as facilities for PWDs.

The vehicles of all Sector Magistrates was also fitted with GPS and P. A System for security measures. The Sector Magistrates were also advised to take the designated routes as their movements would be tracked via GPS.

Gyalshing, 30 Mar (IPR): A flag march led by Superintendent of Police, West, Tenzing Loden Lepcha , IPS, accompanied by SDPO, Soreng, Bijoy Subba, SHO, Sombaria, Milan Kanta Sharma, and other officers including SSB and IRBN jawans and Sikkim Police personnel was conducted from Okhray to Daramdin via Chyangba Gaon-Puretaar-Byong-Tikpur-Church Gaon-Sombaria Bazar-Ambotay-Daramdin.

The route march started at 11 am and concluded at 3:20 pm at Daramdin.

The route march was a part of confidence building measure amongst the general public of Daramdin Assembly Constituency for free and fair elections 2019.

Gyalshing, 30 Mar (IPR): The final round of training and briefing of polling personnel (women) for conduct of General Elections was conducted at the Conference Hall of Zilla Bhawan in Gyalshing. The meeting was chaired by Shri. Karma R. Bonpo, DC/RO West; Shri. P. W. Lepcha, STATE NODAL OFFICER (EVMs and VVPATs); Shri. Karma L. Lepcha, ADC West; Shri. Tushar G. Nikhare, SDM (HQ) and Shri. Netra Biswakarma, US (RMDD).

The DC in his address briefed the Polling Officers on their respective duties that they are needed to carry out on the poll day. He urged them to train themselves as a team and to be able to adapt themselves to the sound of the Ballot Units which would prove to be beneficial and would come in handy to check if the person has voted or not.

In similar context he even asked them to listen with extreme concentration at the time of elderly (women) casting their votes to make sure if the voting procedure is fulfilled. He also stressed on the importance on handling of the EVM and VVPAT machines carefully to avoid malfunction during the day of the polls. 

Further, he also informed about the Parliamentary and Assembly EVMs and VVPATs should be kept separately. Addressing further he even asked them to perform the exercise of mock poll and also to clear the data from the Mock Poll machines after the mock poll is conducted.

While discussing on Presiding Diary he encouraged them to go through it and to be very well familiar with it so as there can be no error of any kind in the line of duty. He urged them to be systematic and organized so as to avoid errors on the Poll day. 

The ADC addressed the trainees by strongly urging them to check for each and every subsidiary materials inside the polling bag and also making sure by doing tally in accordance to checklist.

Likewise, he also informed about the timing schedule of disbursement of polling materials along with the timeframe at which they are needed to perform various poll day exercises.

Master trainers for the training were Smt. Karma Sonam Choden Tongden, DE (Power) and Santosh Allay, Senior Welfare Officer. 

A total of 58 Trainees present during the Final Round of Training.