By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The panel discussion on ‘More Clarity and Light on EVM and VVPAT’ held here on Wednesday, concluded that public awareness was required in the coming days to dispel any doubts on the machines.
Summing up the discussion on the use of EVMs and VVPATs, former Minister Manas Chaudhuri, who was the moderator, said the message should be that there should be proper awareness among the voters on the use of these machines as there are varied views on their use.
Among the panelists was F. R. Kharkongor, Chief Electoral Officer, Prof. R. K. Satpathy, Political Science Department, NEHU and Allantry F. Dkhar, Political Advisor to the Chief Minister and Vice-President of United Democratic Party.
Presenting his side of the observation on the EVMs and VVPATs, Kharkongor said there are no major hiccups with regard to EVMs and VVPATs. According to him, the Election Commission has made a concerted effort to embrace technology to become swift and free from flaws compared to the past when ballot papers were used.
Pointing to the need for improvement, he said, “Machine error is unavoidable. Safety protocol will be enhanced.
The pros seemingly outweigh the cons. The system also cannot be hacked.” Citing an instance to imply that ballot paper cannot be used, he pointed out that planes crash and plane machinery fails, but to revert back to bullock cart is out of the question.
Satpathy said human errors are more in paper voting than in EVM as there is less rigging, less malpractice and less manipulation while stressing that people should be properly educated about the EVMs and VVPATs. On other hand, Dkhar mooted for a ballot collection unit even as he asserted that the election machinery is hiding under the garb of human error alleging that there are election officials who don’t know how to fix the cables.
He observed that the election department has not taken responsibility for the human error that has caused undue delays and loss of voters in polling stations.
“Anything man-made can be mishandled. We do not have an electorate that is educated to understand the technicalities involved in securing your vote, if you use the machine,” Dkhar said. Responding to this, Kharkongor said VVPATs were introduced for the first time and asserted that those who man the machines will be very nervous as there will be layers of rules and regulations and penalties when it comes to elections. “Human management is something we need to further look into, we need to train people better. People in the next election will be more familiar,” he added.
The moderator, a former journalist, while analysing both the views on the use of EVMs and VVPATs, agreed to the suggestion that more safeguards should be introduced. Kharkongor reiterated that the challenges pointed out were more on account of human error and not necessarily related to EVMs and VVPATs. “In Meghalaya, the story has been widely positive as EVMs and VVPATs have been well received by the public in general and the evidence is that there were no election related petitions in the last Assembly elections”, he said.
The panel discussion was organised with the support of Shillong Press Club and Chief Electoral Officer in the run up to the National Press Day scheduled for Friday.