SMS BASED INFORMATION SYSTEM

All first phase districts may please use the SMS based communication plan energetically!

Awareness for Braille : DM Nadia's Comment

I reproduce hereunder DM Nadia's Comment posted elsewhere in the blog:

"Associations of persons with visually impaired can be helpful to all districts in tracking the electors having knowledge of Braille and their parts. PrO of such polling booths may be given briefing at DC day and also demonstration as to how the Braille System actually works at booth. Unless precaution is taken and PrO is alerted, Braille ballot paper may be unutilised at all the booths. DSWO and NGOs engaged in welfare of disabled can be really helpful
Onkar Singh Meena, DM Nadia"

Observer Details in Newspapers

Relevant information on Observers (PC Name, tel no. , place of stay etc) should be published in3 leading district dailies and district page/edition of one State Level English and one State Level Bengali newspaper by DEOs. (For Darjeeling District, in State Level Nepali newspaper too). The publication should be repeated on P-1 day also.

Micro Observers to be selected by Observers - no need for computerised randomisation

1. Micro Observers should be selected from the list of eligible officers by the observers 

2. Polling stations will be assigned manually by Observers a day prior to the day of departure

3. It is not necessary to randomise the selection process of Micro Observers by using computer software.

(This partially amends our earlier instructions)

Ref: ECI Instruction dt 18.4.2009

-CEO

Presiding Officer's Mobile to be in SWITCHED OFF Mode

In partial modification of its earlier orders, the Commission has said that Presiding Officers will be allowed to keep their mobile phones - but in a switched-off mode.

This may be explained to all PrOs.

No CUG: We've discussed with BSNL. Due to technical reasons and short time available it seems that we have to drop the idea of having CUG enabled SIM cards.

Training in "You Tube" site

As discussed in the video-conference, training videos have been uploaded on You Tube at the following site:

http://www.youtube.com/tme

Video Conference with DEOs/DMs on 13.4.2009 at 4 pm

The Election Commission held a VC with all CEOs today (12.4.2009) regarding Communication Plan (ComET).

I'll hold a follow-up meeting on 13.4.2009 at 4 pm through the ROT/SIT Video Conference from Roopkala Kendra.

All DMs/DEOs, ADM (E), OC(Communication), System/Asst System Manager, OC (Election) etc may please attend.

RO(Kolkata-Dakhshin) and RO (Kolkata-Uttar) may please attend at the Roopkala Kendra, Salt Lake.

-CEO

PS: Please keep technical persons of ROT/SIT of districts may please be kept informed.

MCC Violation: Party-wise FIRs lodged - Report

We'd asked all DEOs to furnish report on party-wise list of FIRs lodged (as on 31.3.2009) for MCC violation. Some districts have responded. Other DEOs may furnish the report immediately.
I'll review on Tuesday (14.4.09).
-CEO
PS: Even after filing FIRs, if the defacement or the offence concerned has not been removed, take a photo, authenticate it, then have it witnessed and then remove it. Start from public buildings. The expenditure should be clearly attributable and reimbursement officially demanded within 3 days from the party concerned. This letter should also go into the case file and copy communicated to the IO and APP conducting the case in the judicial court.

Advisory: Photograph and Documentation

The other day, I was shown a Press Clipping showing that EVM awareness is going on in a Boat. We need to capture interesting events in the course of GE2009 by digital photographs. I'd advise all ROs/DEOs to dedicate a creative person with a digital camera to capture such events. These may or may not relate to polling preparations. Some examples:
(1) Interesting campaign modes by political parties, use of traditional folk art, witty cartoons/graffiti
(2) Handicapped persons being helped, visually challenged ones using Braille
(3) Ideal / best polling booth lay-out
(4) Interesting patterns in voters' queue
(5) Any extreme booths (least no of voters/ most remote)
(6) Novel modes of transport (pony/ van rickshaw/ boat/ tractor/)
(7) Celebrities queueing up
(8) CPF and police in interesting poses
(9) Media moving with camera
(10) School benches used to make voters sit, rather than stand, in queue (I saw this in Mizoram Elections where I went as a Special Observer)
(11) Any memorable event (Think!).
- In short, I'd expect each RO to come up with a CD with interesting photos with proper captions, after the GE2009.
I plan to upload these later in Flickr and You Tube etc for the world to see.
-CEO, WB

Report in 2A, 2B for Communication Plan : Reminder

Commission has mandated two new reports:

2B: For District Communication Plan, and

2A: For AC-level Communication Plan.

Except for Darjeeling, Uttar Dinajpur, Hoogly and Purba Midnapur, others have not given the reports.

Commission pressing hard.

Please expedite.