Preparations for Lok Sabha elections reviewed in Kupwara

Kupwara, Apr 2: The District Election Officer (DEO), Kupwara, Ayushi Sudan Tuesday chaired a general election meeting of Assistant Returning Officers (AROs), District Officers, Election Nodal Officers, Principals of Degree Colleges and Higher Secondary Schools at Meeting Hall of DC Office Complex here to review the progress of preparations with regard to conduct of upcoming Lok Sabha Elections-2024 in the district.

At the outset, the DEO reviewed the status of Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program in the district.

The DEO directed Nodal Officer SVEEP/CEO Kupwara to activate and up-scale BAGs (Booth Awareness Groups) and SVEEP activities besides making them sustained and regular activities so that voter awareness, education and participation in the electoral process is further promoted in the district. She also directed Nodal Officer SVEEP to take the Information & PR department on board for the wide publicity of the activities.

She enjoined upon the HOIs and District Officers to organize SVEEP sessions in their respective Educational institutions and Offices.

The DEO directed the concerned Officers to work with utmost coordination to complete all assigned tasks related to the conduct of the Lok Sabha elections-2024. She stressed that Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) should be ensured as per norms of ECI.

She directed HOIs to cross check the AMFs at respective Polling stations, besides concerned AROs will oversee the inspection of AMFs in Polling stations. She further directed the concerned to ensure readiness of all arrangements for polling parties, and security staff.

The DEO also enjoined upon the concerned to take up all necessary arrangements for facilitating voting by Postal Ballots by various categories of Voters including service voters, personnel on Poll Duty, Employees of Essential service Departments, migrant electors, absent electors, etc so that they cast their vote in upcoming Lok Sabha Election without any difficulty.

The DEO directed the concerned to establish Postal ballot facilitation centres for every assembly segment.

She asked the concerned Nodal Officers to expedite the process of imparting Election related Trainings to the Poll Staff and ensure no additional assignments are allocated to Polling staff.

The meeting was attended by AROs, District Officers, Election Nodal officers and Principals of Degree Colleges and Higher Secondary Schools.