DEO Srinagar convenes meeting to review preparedness

Srinagar, Sep 07: To meet all requirements for smooth conduct of Assembly Elections-2024 in District, the District Election Officer(DEO) Srinagar, Dr Bilal Mohi-Ud-Din Bhat today chaired a meeting of Returning Officers(ROs) and Nodal Officers of the District.

The meeting deliberated over vast aspects of arrangements to put a meticulous mechanism in place at General Polling Stations and Unique Polling Stations.

At the out set, DEO directed ROs and District Forest Officer to plant 100 to 150 plants in Green Polling station of every Assembly Constituency or as per the available space while 10 to 15 plants in general Polling Stations.

He instructed them to engage first two voters in plantation at the polling station.

The step is amid to create mass awareness regarding conservation and protection of environment and collective responsibility to participate in the social cause along with the participation in the festival of democracy.

DEO complimented ROs for ensuring smooth process of Nomination filing & scrutiny of nominations.

The DEO emphasized on Officers to understand their critical role to address and execute all the matters with clarity to ensure free, fair, transparent and smooth conduct of Elections in all 8 Assembly Constituencies of Srinagar District.

He also instructed ROs to interact with Media so the general public, voters of constituencies and other stakeholders remain updated with overall data, facilities and arrangements.

Regarding SVEEP activities to boost the voter awareness and participation in district, Dr Bilal directed concerned to increase Systematic Voters Education and Electoral Participation programs involving students and local communities.

With respect to Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) at all Polling Stations, he directed concerned for enhancing qualitative aspects of arrangements regarding ramps, separate toilets for women and men, electricity & drinking water facility.

To ensure no inconvenience is faced by PwD voters, DEO directed ROs to set up Red Polling Stations at such locations where road connectivity is exceptionally good.

He also directed to constitute Booth Awareness Groups at each polling station to facilitate voters.

Meanwhile, DEO issued slew of directions for Home Voting, Service Voters, Postal ballot facility to cover the target population.

The meeting also deliberated over Randomisation of EVMs, Printing of Ballot Papers, identification of Counting centres, Training of staff, BAGs, rebuttal of fake news and other election related issues.