Meeting by DMs with SP & Mobile Service Providers: Report by 5.3.09

I'd requested in my no. 47 dt 20.2.2009 to hold a meeting with mobile service providers & SP to identify mobile shadow zones.

As directed by the ECI, a report on this must reach us by 5.3.09. (Recall that I'll be having BDO/SDO/DM VC the day before, on 4.3.09)

I myself held a state-level meeting here in Kolkata on 28.2.09; I give below a few points for DMs:-

(i) In some cases, BSNL / Mobile Service Providers cannot commission towers due to lack of power, GP Permission, Municipal Permission or Land Permission. Tea Garden areas are also some problems. DM may intervene keeping such towers in view that will be commissioned before the General Elections.

(ii) Theft and interference with running/ projects are a problem. Till the elections, OCs of Police Stations should be sensitised to help them whenever requested.

(iii) I was told that some service providers may not have senior technical executives at the district level. As such, DMs may hold the meetings with the nominated local representative of the service providers.

-CEO

ROT/SIT Video Conference with BDOs, SDOs, DMs etc on 4.3.2009 at 12 noon

I will hold a Video Conference with all BDOs, SDOs, DMs and other election related officers on 4.3.2009 at 12 noon. The Video Conference will be telecast by Roopkala Kendra in Salt Lake. All operators of ROT/SIT/Lok Sanchar may be alerted to keep the equipment ready. SDOs may attend the nearest ROT/SIT centre as convenient. 

Agenda notes follow.

-CEO

Adjourned BLO-BLA meeting on Sunday 1-3-2009

We had an all political party meeting today.

Many parties felt that many BLOs were not present on 23-2-09 although their BLAs were present.

In modification to an earlier blog of mine, it is now decided, in consultation with political parties, that all such adjourned BLO-BLA meetings willtake place on Sunday the 1st March 2009 at 12 noon.

All DEOs/ EROs may pl. take action accly.

-CEO

Statutory is Green, Non-Statutory is Yellow

In the DEOs' meeting on 19.2.2009, we decided that forms & envelopes used in booths would be colour coded.

Now Commission has sent written instructions in their no. 464/INST/2009-EPS dt 23.2.2009. The colour code would be as follows:

Green: Colour of Statutory Forms and Covers

Yellow: Colour of Non-Statutory Forms and Covers

Brown: Colour of Packet containing manuals, indelible ink etc

Blue: Colour of Packet containing other items.

This slightly modifies what we discussed on 19th. Further details, including samples of covers, are contained in ECI's instructions.

-CEO

  

BLO-BLA Meeting On 23.2.2009

It is midday of 23.2.2009 now. BLO-BLA meetings are taking place all over the state.

However, few complaints are being received that BLOs have not been able to come on time.

All DEOs/EROs/AEROs are requested to take stock of the matter and hold adjourned meetings on 26.2.2009 at the same time/place under intimation to BLAs.

A feedback may be sent to us.

-CEO

23.2.2009

Decisions in all DM/DEOs' meeting in Kolkata on 19.2.2009

We took the following decisions:-
1. Ensure that all undistributed EPICs are distributed by 28.2.2009. Make suitable distribution programmes. Intimate electors individually to collect their cards by 28.2.2009.
2. Give EPICs to 100% electors by 7.3.2009. Make district specific programmes. Send details of EPIC programmes so drawn up to CEO office helpline (to OSD Santanu Basu) so that 1506 Anandababu helpline is kept informed.
3. Set up control room in district HQ to monitor complaints on violations of Model Code of Conduct once MCC comes into force. Publicise these numbers locally.

4. Pinpoint mobile shadow areas where satellite phones, police wireless or even flag signals (think of hills) or speed boats (think of Sunderbans) may be required. Motto: Information turnaround time of 30 minutes. Send details in proforma to CEO Office (OSD Santanu Basu) . 
5. Complete database on Polling Personnel by 28.2.2009 and inform CEO office (OSD Purnendu Maji)
6. Accord priority to old EVM shifting to Andhra Pradesh: no trucks should be kept waiting: take steps to clear memory even before trucks come.
7.Read checklists for DEOs/ ROs/ Sector Officers/ Presiding Officers in Election Commission Website.
8. Hold daily election co-ordination meetings with all officers at district, subdivision and block at a fixed time. For CEO Office, this is held daily between 11 and 11.30 am and election officials across the state are discouraged from calling our officers during this period unless it is very urgent. (So, our accessibilty is 24x7 - 30 min per day !).
- CEO

Draft Calendar of Events: GE2009

In the agenda item with the letter convening the meeting of DMs/DEOs on 19.2.09, it was indicated that a draft Calendar of events would be placed in this blog on which discussions would be held in the meeting before adoption.
The draft is given below. We may discuss on 19.2.09.
-CEO
DRAFT CALENDAR OF EVENTS (For discussion on 19.2.09)
1.
Proposal for Appointment of Returning Officers-Approval of Commission thereof
By 20-2-2009
2.
Proposal for modifications in the list of approved Polling Stations – Approval of Commission thereof
15-2-2009 to 07-03-2009
3.
EPIC Programme + EVM Awareness in booth clusters
16-2-2009 to 07-03-2009
4.
Training of System /Asst System Managers at Kolkata
26.2.2009
5.
Computerizations of Polling Personnel Database
By 28-2-2009
6.
Training of Master Trainers for EVMs by ECIL experts to District Level Officers at
Kolkata
02-03-2009 to 03-03-2009
7.
Proposal for Additional Assistant Returning Officers- Approval of Commission thereof
By 07-03-2009 to 21-03-2009
8
First Level checking of EVM & District wise numbering
By 10-3-2009
9.
Procurement of Election articles from outside the State
By 15-3-2009
10.
Proposal for setting up of Auxiliary Polling Stations-Approval of Commission thereof.
By 15-03-2009 to 31-03-2009
11.
Procurement of Forms & Stationary by Districts
By 31-03-2009
12.
Proposal for Counting Centres- Approval of Commission thereof
By31-03-2009 to 10-04-2009
13.
Printing of Ballot Papers for
i) Service Voters (including dispatch)
ii) Persons on Election Duty
iii) EVM/Tender
i) Within 48 hrs. after the last hr. of withdrawal of Candidature
ii) Within 72 hrs. after the last hour of withdrawal of candidature.
iii) Within 5 days after the last hour of withdrawal of candidature
14.
Supply of electoral rolls to Contesting Candidates
Within two days from date of withdrawal
15.
Supply of 2nd Supplements for Political Parties
Within two days from date of withdrawal
16.
Randomisation of EVMs Assembly Constituency-wise Identification of critical Polling Stations
By last date of withdrawal of candidature
17.
Requisitioning of vehicles
By last date of withdrawal
18.
Issuance of Appointment letter to Polling Personnel
By the last day of filing nomination
19.
Training of Master Trainees for imparting training to Polling Personnel
By the last day of filing nomination
20.
EPIC issued list By P-5 day
21.
Procurement of digital/video cameras by districts
By P-5 day
22.
Preparation of marked copies
By P-5 day
23.
Appointment of Exe.Magis and their briefing
By P-5 day
24.
Hands-on training to Polling Personnel on EVMs
By P-5 day
25.
Two phase Training of Polling Personnel
By P-5 day
26.
Receipt of applications for Postal Ballot and Issuance of Postal Ballot Papers
By P-5 day
27.
Commissioning of EVMs
By P-7 day
28.
Appointment of Sector Officers and their briefing
By P-14 day
29.
EPIC Programmes
By P-14 to P-10 day
30.
Issuance of Pass to Counting Agents
By C-2 day
31.
Training of Counting Personnel
By C-4 day
32.
Isssuance of appointment letters to Counting Personnel
By C-7 day

All DMs / DEOs' Meeting in Kolkata on 19.2.2009: Chief Secretary to Address

An all DEO/DM meeting will be held at Rotunda, Writers' Buildings, Kolkata at 11 am on 19.2.2009. All DMs and DEO, Kolkata may please attend. Chief Secretary has consented to address the gathering.
Detailed agenda notes are being sent. The brief points for discussion will be as follows:-
1. Address by Chief Secretary
2. Follow-up of instructions issued by Election Commission in CEOs' Conference at Delhi on 4&5.2.09
3. Action plan for Continuous Updation of PER & EPIC Campaign
4. Action Plan for General Elections 2009
5. Calendar of Events
6. Security and Law and Order Matters
7. Miscellaneous.