List of Shifted-from-other AC by 31.12.2007

For the first time, all 294 ACs will be photo-roll ACs in our state. Any elector whose photo appears in the draft roll and whose claim for inclusion in another AC has been accepted on "shifting" grounds need not be photographed again. To retrieve his photo from the old AC, however, we need to know the name of the old AC and, of course, the EPIC number and name.

A list may therefore be made of all electors shifted in from other ACs. The EPIC number and the number/name of the previous AC as well as the name_&_relation_name must be included in the list.

The list must be faxed and emailed to us by 31.12.2007, Monday, positively. Pl email this to nathsomde@gmail.com

Merry Christmas to all!!

Tell All to Take Delivery of Undistributed EPICs

I toured several EPIC correction centres today and discovered that many new-format EPICs are yet to be distributed though many DEOs/EROs have made very good earmarked counters for distributing the new format EPICs.

People are regularly contacting us stating that they had missed taking delivery of their new-format new EPICs from the booths during the period of Claims and Objections and asking for action to be taken now to get their new EPICs.

If we don't deliver the EPICs, we won't know if there are errors. And if there are errors, these should be corrected in the correction centres - preferably by 20.12.2007.

So, please organise publicity urging people to take delivery of the EPICs from EROs/BDOs/DEOs/Spl.Camps - as the case may be.

Attention North Bengal Districts

For local elections in Assam, SEC Assam has requested for large ballot boxes on loan. They'd require about 12,000 boxes. Their elections would be in Dec 2007 itself. All costs for transportation, servicing, return would be borne by them. Pending formal approval by the Commission, we've conveyed our no-objection.
So districts in North Bengal may please chalk out a quick plan for handing over to Assam representatives the requisite number of ballot boxes. In our formal communication, we've indicated the number of ballot boxes to be made available from each district.

Defaulting "Control Table" districts

I am told that the following districts:
Jalpaiguri
Darjeeling
Murshidabad
Pashim Midnapore
Purba Midnapore
Burdwan
North 24-Paraganas
South 24-Paraganas
Nadia
Hoogly
Birbhum, and
Bankua
have not sent data - partly or fully - on (1) Section Details (2) Polling Station Details and (3) List of Polling Premises. If so, please send these IMMEDIATELY. Matter urgent.

Are there complaints over new EPICs?

There may have been few mistakes in the new EPICs now being distributed. In some cases, EROs are getting these corrected informally using the vendors of WTL. For the remaining cases, WTL will place at least one person-unit per subdivision (outside Kolkata) during the period 11to20 Dec 2007 to correct only the new-format EPICs.

In the 44 Urban ACs around Kolkata, there will be one person-unit per AC for taking care of such corrections for new-format EPICs. Within this set, in a subset consisting of Alipore and Kabitirtha ACs, there will be four correcting persons/units in both ACs.

DEOs/EROs may please, however, keep proper account of Holograms. "Corrections" mean rectification of WTL vendors' mistakes. See 001B/001C forms as filled up by electors.

Please note that correction of old-format EPICs (due to change in address etc) will continue to be done at PECs during Dec 2007.

On-line applications

Like last year, we're going to allow on-line applications through our website. Applicants will be asked to meet the ERO on 14.12.2007 at his office with supporting documents. The signature of the applicant will be taken on the print-out of the e-application form 6/7/8/8A during this special hearing by ERO. At the time of this hearing, the applicant can also submit 2 photos on Form 001C.

So, all EROs may be advised to remain present in their offices on 14.12.2007 with rolls of all ACs for which he is the ERO. Support staff setup may also be kept ready.

Are the Master CDs OK?

We are receiving some alarming news that few Master CDs given by WTL have errors on Title Page or the roll itself.

Please check.

If there is a problem, get it rectified by talking to WTL. (In few cases, e.g. East Mdp, they have changed the CDs).

In all cases - even if the defect is now rectified -, keep us informed so that we can talk about the defects at the highest level.

How many camera teams will WTL give?

This is w.r.t. EPIC campaign in 1-10 Feb 2008.

All ACs will get 2 Cameras( + Cameramen) each. Exceptions are as follows:

Three cameras for: 139-Belgachia (East), 147-Kabitirtha, 148-Alipore, 150-Tollygunj, 152-Ballygunj.

One Camera for: 140-Cossipore, 141-Shyampukur, 142-Jorabagan, 143-Jorasanko, 144-Barabazar, 145-Bowbazar, 153-Entally, 155-Beliaghata, 156-Sealdah, 157-Vidyasagar, 158-Burtola, 160-Belgachia (West)

What did State level Political Parties say on 1.11.2007?

Quite a lot!

Two points, however, bear highlighting:-
1. Time for C&O is shorter this time. So we must ensure that all rolls reach the booths (with DOs) on 14.11.2007 itself.
2. One DO for one premise, at worst. No clubbing of premises to be done.

That makes our challenge to print the rolls in time all the more relevant.

URGENT MESSAGE: Roll print in districts

I spoke to all DMs today. From CDs containing roll data, 14 copies are to be printed by the districts. CDs will be handed over in meeting on 5.11.2007. This is due to a sudden difficulty faced by WTL - a fact intimated to us only today - which is why they can't print the copies as planned earlier.

All election managers are requested to do whatever is possible so that the copies are ready before the date of publication - 14.11.2007. I know that time is short and it is a lot of sudden work - but we are all trained to handle emergencies, aren't we?

Revised PEC dates: 1.12.2007 to 31.12.2007

Since we'll now have to finally publish the rolls on 18.1.2008, and since corrections etc undertaken in the PECs (Permanent EPIC Centres) have to be reflected in the FP Rolls, we'll have to close down the PECs temporarily by 31.12.2007 (and NOT by 31.1.2008 as intimated earlier).

Consolidated PEC data may be sent to WTL within 3 days thereafter, ie by 3.1.2008

1-10 Feb 2007 EPIC Campaign; No. of 001C per booth

Samples of 001C forms (in English and Bengali) are available on our web. Districts may print necessary copies. Each booth may be provided a minimum of 30 copies of 001C - more in urban constituencies.

Post FP EPIC programme should be drawn up by the districts within the period 1.2.2007 to 10.2.2007 in consultation with WTL. The programme must be communicated to DOs before 14.11.2007 so that they can guide the applicants. The recommended level is one team per block or one team per AC in Urban Constituencies around Kolkata.

We are holding all political party meeting at State level on 1.11.2007 at Kolkata. Districts may do so likewise soon thereafter.

Shubho Bijoya to all.

e-interaction

To spread our “e-interaction” further, we are convening a meeting again at Kolkata on 5.11.2007. We will, of course, also discuss preparedness for the Summary Revision and EPIC programme. Letters are being despatched.

Meanwhile, I wish everybody a happy and cheerful Durga Puja.
:)
Debashis Sen
17.10.2007
Kolkata

Rolls to be published finally on 18.1.2008

It is official now. The Commission has approved the revised schedule for roll publication. This is as follows:-
Draft Publication: 14.11.2007
Period of Claims & Objections: 14.11.2007 to 3.12.2007
Last date of disposal of claims & objections: 11.1.2008
FP: 18.1.2008

001C and Guidelines posted on web

Form 001C is available on the net: Go to http://ceowestbengal.nic.in , click on the link "Forms", then on "Photo I-Cards" to go to 001C

Sample guidelines in Bengali for Designated Officers for Summary Revision 2008 are posted on a separate link button on bottom left called "Summary Revision 2008". Just click on it.
Two caveats: Few dates may require changing if revised schedule comes into effect. (2) The draft is to be modified (and translated into Nepali for hill subdivisions of Dj) as per local variations.

Is the schedule for Summary Revision changing?

Yes and no.
Draft publication date (14.11.2007), last date of claims and objections (3.12.2007) and last date of disposal of claims and objections are likely to remain the same as before. But the date of Final Publication is likely to be preponed to 18.1.2008.

How is this possible?
- Simple. Photography will be done after FP. Effects of photography will be reflected in next supplement.

Why is this being done?
- Because Commission advised us so: for being prepared for any eventuality.

Is this final? - Well, a proposal has been sent and I expect it to be approved shortly.

Now new 001C

In an earlier blogpost I talked of using 001B instead of 001A during Summary Revision. Now there is yet a new form, Form 001C, that combines the both. Use it for EPIC and photoroll preparation.

In our recent sample working guidelines for Summary Revision (in Bengali), we have already talked about this form. We’ll put a sample on the website soon.

Booth - village distance..continued

Burdwan posed an interesting question, which is addressed in the reply. However, for further clarity, I give a proforma that may be adopted for collecting the mouza-booth distances:

Part No. / Mouza(s) Covered / Partly or Fully / Distance from booth

How far is a village from a polling booth premise?

I hope work on control tables as discussed in the video conference and, later, at the workshop is nearing completion. Now Election Commission wants to know the distance of each mouza from a booth whenever a booth is away from the mouza.

Please collect the data and pass it on to the WTL vendor working in your district.

How useful are PECs anyway?

I want some data on performance of Permanent Epic Centres (PECs). Remember that we started the PECs only about two years ago.

For example, no. of new EPICs issued per month (on average), no. of corrections/ duplicates per month, money collected per month etc. Locationwise. Even a few sample from each district would do.

Please post your responses in this blogsite only - no formal report is necessary.

CEO, 26.9.2007

Any more addl. "hearing" AEROs?

Up to 10 additional AEROs per AC only for hearing claims and objections for Summary Revision may be proposed.

But proposal should reach us by 26.9.2007, if not already sent. This was discussed in the 19-9-2007 meeting.

1.12.2007 to 31.1.2008

PECs (Permanent EPIC Centres) must close (again!) on 31.1.2008, after it opens, as we've discussed earlier, on 1.12.2007.

This is to enable data consolidation with Block-level EPIC campaign from 11.2.2008 to 18.2.2008 and FP list.

Your email = ?

We decided to record our email addresses here. In today's (19.9.2007) meeting at Kolkata. Mine is: ceo_westbengal@eci.gov.in

We also decided to spread the message to all other Election Managers, including BDOs, Data Entry Operators etc.

001A or 001B?

Use 001B, always.
Because we need to get the date of birth - if this can be supported by documents, of course.

Photographs will be accepted and photo will be taken for new electors, non-image electors and electors with mismatched or unrecognisable images on the rolls. In all cases, one may use Form 001B together with Form 6, Form 8 or Form 8A wherever applicable.
However, 001B will have to be MODIFIED suitably to apply for SRER2008: there will be NO pre-printed names, for example.

When do we again operate the Permanent EPIC Centres?

From 1.12.2007.
Yes, I know it's a bit distant - but there are constraints. Corrections in EPICs have to be reflected in the draft rolls to be published while with the draft publication, serial number of electors change due to integration of mother rolls with supplements. There is a further need for data centralisation and amalgamation among the districts' EPIC and roll databases.
So all corrections, duplications etc from first Dec 2007. PEC staff to be alerted accordingly.

Who will give presentation on 19.9.2007?

In the meeting-cum-workshop to be held on 19.9.2007, few districts will make powerpoint presentations on GIS or other issues. I would request all districts to reconfirm if they are going to organise a presentation. Each presentation should be limited to 10 minutes, please.


PS: Today we are sending the CDs on "section - polling station - mouza/ward" to all districts. Guidelines are also included on the covering letter.

How to add a new Section in a part?

1. Give it a name
2. Tell SLA (ie WTL)'s Kolkata Office and OSD(IT) in which part/AC it will be added
3. Identify the electors to be included in this new section through manuscript of continuous revision

(Please do step 2 before 15.9.2007)

What did we decide in the V-Conf on 5.9.2007?

We missed Coochbehar who were out of circuit due to technical reasons. We welcomed Shri Kar as the new DM of Purulia and Shri Chattopadhyay as the new DM of Dakshin Dinajpur.

We decided to have a workshop on Control Tables at Kolkata on 19.9.2007. DMs were requested to nominate ADM(Election) and one other officer. Some districts, it was decided, would give presentations in the workshop on GIS etc. And we called for suggestions on coding/ numbering sub-mouza level habitations.

We also talked of an "Amnestry Scheme" when electors having more than one EPIC would be advised to deposit additional EPICs with the DOs during 14.11.2007 to 3.12.2007.

We decided that one advance copy of electoral roll would be checked by EROs before multiple copies were printed.

What was discussed at the Commission on 30.8.2007?

In the meeting at the Commission on 30.8.2007, the schedule of the Summary Revision of Rolls was discussed. The draft rolls will be published on 14.11.2007 while the last date of claims and objections will be 3.12.2007. Special campaign days will be the weekends of 24-25 Nov 2007 and 1-2 Dec 2007.

The draft rolls will be published on a Wednesday. So supervision works like DO mobilisation etc can be done on the Monday and Tuesday.