By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The State Government would be holding dialogues on Tuesday with the three agitating NGOs (KSU, FKJGP and HNYF) who are currently on the path of agitation demanding the immediate suspension of the ongoing enrolment drive in the election voter’s list in the State.
“I would be holding a dialogue with the agitating NGOs after my arrival from West Khasi Hills on Tuesday evening,” Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma informed here on Monday.
Dr Sangma said that they are likely to discuss on all the issues which have been raised by the NGOs.
“I am hopeful that something positive would emerge from the meeting,” the Chief Minister added.
Meanwhile, normal life was hit in all the four districts in Khasi-Jaintia Hills during the 12-hour bandh sponsored by the NGOs over the alleged enrolment of doubtful voters in the electoral rolls.
Government offices, schools and colleges including financial institutions remained closed during the hours of the bandh, but there was no report of any untoward incidents from any of the four districts.
The government has relented to only one of the demands of the NGOs by closing down the facilitation centres for voters’ registration. However, the government has indicated that enrolment of voters would continue and an ‘effective mechanism’ would be put in place to ensure that ‘doubtful voters’ do not find place on the electoral rolls.
A helpline – 1950 – has also been set up in all the district and sub-divisional headquarters in the State under the electoral rolls management system. The helpline will assist people/voters in all possible ways in all matters/queries/complaints related to electoral rolls and elections, a government communiqué said today.
Besides, booth-level officers, already appointed in all polling stations, will sensitize and assist voters on all election matters under the systematic voters’ education and electoral participation (SVEEP) programme.