I wish to propose the following course of action by all districts; this is NOT final - and I'd invite comments and suggestions from districts before we issue a uniform guideline:-
1. PECs are already working.
2. Get off-site camera-teams and ERO-teams and go out house-to-house or booth-to-booth. Capture photos of non-image electors contained in draft roll*. Use govt digital cameras. Use block/ ERO staff. Hire camera if so needed. A per-photo charge may be paid to the person who takes the photos and maintains the image-elector link.
3. All such images be loaded to PEC computer at periodic intervals, whenever the camera's memory is close to full; uploading to PEC camera is preferred in late afternoon/ evening to avoid rush.
4. Print-outs of EPICs be obtained in PEC. After affixing hologram and laminating, EPICs may be kept for distribution.
5. Distribution may be done preferably from PEC. Once EPICs are ready, individual electors may be intimated to collect the EPICs.
This way, we don't have to wait for special EPIC campaigns in last week of Dec 08. The last week of Dec will be used only for photographing first-time-electors who find their names in the manuscript.
So, what do you think?
-CEO
* except those who may have submitted photos at booth with Form-8/001C; their verbal statements should be OK.
10 comments:
Sir,
This exercise may be started after25th nov.Preparation /processing may be done at PEC,but the distribution can be made at block/muncipality level for convenience of elector.For photography PEC concept can be extended at block level,but going out house -to-house is a very difficult to execute.It will require manpower and mobility support, as staff of bdo office will remained engaged in SRER related work.
However house to house visit of some polling station with considerable no of non EPIC, say more than 15% may be tried.
-shyamal,OC ELEC,Burdwan
Sir,
W are agreed with your proposals for capturing of images of Non-Image electors for the preparation of EPIC before last week of December-08, we have some proposals & requirements as below:
1.Immediately SDOs & BDOs are to be advised to chalkout image capturing programme for Non-Image electors within 10th December,08.
2. House to House or Booth to Booth visit for the capturing of images is difficult due to acute shortage of staff but we may capture images at GP level or 5-6 booths may be clubbed where non-image voters figure is high.
3. Atleast 3-4 digital cameras are to be provided to each SDOs & BDOs for off-line image capturing( In Hooghly,all SDOs & BDOs have two digital cameras).
5. Photography team of SDOs & BDOs only will capture images at GP/DPL & will handover images along with records to SDOs & BDOs. SDOs & BDOs will hand over images to PEC through CD.
6. PEC will only prepare EPIC.
7. BDOs will collect prepared EPICs from PEC for distribution to electors from Block or GP offices.
8. PEC should be strenghthen by providing staff, Computers etc.
9. Our real problem is that our staff working at PEC not so skilled for the preparation of huge nos of EPIC. Skilled persons are to be engased at PEC on payment basis for the preparation of EPIC.Since we had not been able to draft data entry operator at PEC.
10. We have 200 cameras in our district,if you permit us we may allot 3-4 cameras to SDOs & BDOs for the said proramme.
11. Hope, this programme will be successful because BLOs are working at field with Non-EPIC list.We may cover 70-80% target. Rest will get opportunity for second phase of EPIC programme during last week of December,08.
Y/F
P.Maji.
O.C. Election,Hooghly.
Burdwan & Hoogly: I've read your comments with interest. I'll react later.
Sir,
1.House-to-house visit for photo capturing may not be so effective because many electors will remain outside during working period and photo-taking of odd hours may be problematic owing to insufficient light.
2.Booth-to-booth visit for photo taking may be done, giving prior notice of course (so that electors are available), but in that case too, it will take long time to cover all the booths.
3.Owing to time constraints, such photo program need be done either by clubbing some booths per day, or, at the GP level (after servicing of notice to all non-EPICs with request to attend such program)
4.Not-too-many cameras per day can be detailed as BDO will not be able to spare his representatives ( one with each camera), as most of the Block Staff will remain engaged in hearing / disposal / concurrent manuscript writing.
5.Huge rush occurring everyday in the PECs – they have to function till 6-7 p.m. So, separate arrangement with same PEC software installed in different computer will have to be made for Photo-merging / EPIC Preparation / Database Incorporation etc.
6.Due to huge volume of such EPICs to be prepared ERO / BDO’s staff may not be able to perform the job in an error free manner and keeping the image – elector link may become difficult, resulting in mismatch EPICs. Moreover, preparation of EPIC through scanning may not be feasible, owing to lack of technical knowledge & skilled manpower.
7.Best course of action in our opinion is as follows :-
(a)If we are allowed to conduct the program at GP level or clubbing fewer booths per day at each DPL, making it flexible to the BDO’s – only fixing the total no. of camera-days for each block.
(b)Give wide publicity of the program – intimate Block unit of all recognized political parties.
(c)Send notice to all non-EPIC electors.
(d)If we are permitted to engage some professional agency at District Level for (capturing image maintaining proper image-elector link + uploading of data at the subdivision periodically + EPIC processing by the help of present PEC software + same through scanning of photographs ) – at a uniform rate to be fixed from your end – per photo basis for this whole process.
- OC Election, Bankura.
SIR, THANX A LOT FOR THIS INNOVATIVE MEASURE INTRODUCED. IN FACT, MALDA HAD EARLIER MADE SUCH A PROPOSAL FOR "EXTENDED PEC". WE FULLY AGREE WITH THE CONCEPT AND PROPOSE THE FOLLOWING POINTS --
1) As mentioned by Burdwan, Hoogly & Bankura, photo-taking may be done at BLOCK/ GP level (as an "extension counter of PEC")with the help of block staff & election camera, followed by EPIC preparation at PEC & then DISTRIBUTION at BDO office (& not at PEC level which will cause inconvenience to Electors).
2) Block level photo-team may be trained by PEC personnel.
3)PEC may be kept functional ROUND THE YEAR as it is found to be popular among electors (last week saw a daily outturn of 400+ applicants at malda PEC)for prompt & error-free service -- a concept of "continuous EPIC program" similar to continuous updation.
4) some separate funding for PEC may be done for gearing up infrastructure & personnel including photo-taking & preparation charge(since all sub-divisional PECs do not have regular staff)
Sir,
Gone through the blog entry and also through the comments of my colleagues. The main problem of conducting house-to-house EPIC campaign is mainly 3-fold.
Firstly, at this moment there is an acute shortage of staff at Block Level as all are engaged in SRER'09 at this moment.
Secondly, as it was rightly pointed out that most of the persons especially male may not be available at the house as the photography teams will basically move during mid-day or early afternoon if no prior notice is given.
Thirdly, trained manpower i.e. photographers are to be provided with each team for which prior permission is required.
In my humble opinion the facility of PEC may be extended right now upto the block level with necessary technical support from this end with a view to ensure optimum EPIC coverage by 10th December, 2008. Per block two camera teams may be provided at this moment. We can go to DPL level only after 10th when disposal will be over and manpower is available.
Yours faithfully,
Dipanjan
O/C, Election
Murshidabad
Sir,
1.House to house or booth to booth visit may not be feasible due to accute shortage of staff at B.D.O Office as almost everybody is engaged in SRER work.But we may send notices to non EPIC voters through BLOs and chalk out EPIC programmes clubbing two three booths depending upon the no of non EPIC voters of those booths before 10th Dec .We may go for extensive programme for the booths where no of non EPIC voter is more.
2.Regarding preparartion of EPIC, at present we are having huge rush at PECs.Moreover the persons attached to PECs are not so skilled.It might be better if the EPICs are prepared at Block Level itself and distributed through DOs or voters will have to travel to come to Sub-Divisions.For this we may engage a skilled person at Block Level.
3. We may also start a PEC at Block Level and sensitize it through BLOs and Political Parties.
-Sharmistha Banerjee
O/C Election
Paschim Medinipur
Sir,
All out efforts are required for 100% coverage.Now it is at PEC;after 25th it may be undertaken at G.P.s with atleast 2 camera and Sir,in addition to these options we may take the help of Tathya Mitra Kendras which are existed in many G.P.s [under control of P&RD Deptt and run by local V.L.E.]..
Yours faithfully,
Debasish Chattopadhyay
BDO,Kharibari,Darjeeling
Thanks Bankura, West Midnapore, Murshidabad, Hoogly, Burdwan and Darjeeling (Kharibari) for your comments. I've considered each comment and today we've issued the formal guidelines...I'll now make a new post in this blog on this new formal order so that all can seek clarifications on the official guidelines
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