Port Blair, Feb 22: The Chief Electoral Officer, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Mr. K.R. Meena, visited Little Andaman yesterday and inspected the pre-election preparedness works. During the visit, a sensitization-cum-poll preparedness meeting was held at ALHW Recreation Hall, Hut Bay with all the election machinery viz. all local HOO’s, Sector Officers and BLO’s.
Addressing the gathering, the Chief Electoral Officer stated that Election Commission is going to conduct General Election-2019 for Lok-Sabha and it is our duty to provide free, fair and transparent atmosphere to the voters to cast their vote to the candidates of their choice. He emphasized to register those voters who are still to be registered, specially the youth, PwDs and women. He stated that the BLO should identify PwDs of their polling stations and flag them in electoral roll to provide facilities of transportation to them on the day of poll. He further mentioned that Election Commission has provided various facilities to eligible voters to get them registered as voter such as approaching BLOs at their respective Polling Station, use online voters Mobile Helpline App, use National Voters Service Portal ( www-NVSP.eci.in) for online registration as voter. Voters can also check correctness of their entries on voters list by using above said online facilities and fill up Form-8 online to correct their entries.
The CEO categorically stated that each and every officials should be prepared themselves fully and there should be no scope of any doubts or apprehensions on the procedures/aspects to be followed, if still exists any kind of dilemma in their minds on any issues that ought to be cleared promptly from AEROs/ERO to surmount the doubts.
The Commission has also set up Toll Free helpline number 1950 in each District where voters can obtain election related information and also lodge their election related complaints. They can also use National Grievance Service Portal of (www.ngsp.eci.in) of Commission to lodge their complaints online.
The CEO further informed that Commission is going to organize special camp on Feb.23 and 24, 2019 to facilitate registration of those eligible voters who are still to be registered. The Officials should create awareness about those Camps to cover all eligible voters to register their name in Electoral Rolls. During these camps they should also identify and flag PwDs in voters list to facilitate appropriate assistance to them during poll day Beside that they should also distribute EPIC cards to new electors and facilitate preparation of EPIC cards to those who either lost their EPIC or whose photographs in the roll is not clear.
While briefing the Sector Magistrate, he advised them to undertake intensive tour in their jurisdiction and gather the intelligence about the law & order. They should also supervise availability of Assured Minimum Facilities in polling stations so that voters should not face any problem on the day of Poll.
In the afternoon, Chief Electoral Officer, A &N Islands along with Tehsildar, Little Andaman and other officials visited as many as 15 Polling Stations to ensure the Assured Minimum Facilities to be put on ground as per the instructions of the Election Commission. During the visit, he interacted with the BLO’s of respective polling stations and collected various inputs with regards to status of various forms for registration/modification/shifting of voters in the E-roll and instructed that all the eligible voters should be enrolled in the E-roll to give consensus with the Commission theme that ‘No Voters to be Left Behind’. The Chief Electoral Officer also directed the BLO’s that no eligible voters with their respective jurisdiction should not be left and also called upon the need for proper and 100% turnout in ensuring Lok Sabha Election. He further directed to constitute voters awareness club in Sr. Sec. Schools and also nominate Election Ambassadors within the pupils in order to create awareness among the students about the ensuing election.
The CEO today visited Dugong Creek Polling Station and interacted with local officials and voters to ensure free, fair and transparent election. The Dugong Creek Polling Station is setup to provide voting facility to Onge tribes of the Island.