SHILLONG: Chief Electoral Officer FR Kharkongor and his team on Friday reviewed electoral preparedness and security arrangement for the Lok Sabha election to Tura seat and the by-election to Selsella Assembly seat.
The returning officer in Tura provided details of the preparedness and steps taken to tackle communication bottlenecks, transport and EVM matters.
Nine companies of CAPF are in Garo Hills division, especially in sensitive and vulnerable pockets. Nine repeater stations were being set up to tackle communication shadow areas. Repeater station is a mobile tower for very high frequency sets used for communication among polling parties and sector officers where connectivity is either negligible or nil.
Kharkongor, who was accompanied by ADG H Nongpluh, focused on the challenges in South Garo Hills which has about 30 polling stations not connected by motorable roads and emphasised the need to have additional sector officials with EVMs for these difficult areas
Selsella by-election
The CEO highlighted the need to generate more awareness on simultaneous elections. Selsella will have two additional polling staff, besides the four deployed, to tackle the by-poll. Emphasis was also laid on intensive training for polling officials, especially with regard to EVM and voter management.
The SP for cyber security highlighted the measures to tackle social media posts through strict monitoring of posts and penalty in case a post is deemed to have vitiated the poll process.
The team also reviewed the assured minimum facilities at polling stations, particularly facilities for People with Disabilities (PwDs).
Arrangement for ramps, wheelchairs, Braille ballot, Braille epic and large scale deployment and engagement of election volunteers drawn from leading youth organisations were also discussed.
The returning officer and district election officers were urged to intensify EVM-VVPAT awareness through road shows leading up to the polls in all traditional markets and uncovered hamlets and villages.
The DEOs and SPs of Garo Hills districts gave detailed presentation on the law and order. DIG Western range, SP in charge CID and cyber security and SP communications were also present.
