Photographs in "You Tube"

We have uploaded few photos as a slide show / album in You Tube site.

To see it, click in the following link:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdFdwJe5z8o

Alternatively, go to www.youtube.com and search for

elections west bengal

Interesting Photos / Video Clippings by 2nd June 2009

To send interesting photos/ video-clippings of good quality to the Commission, I require CDs containing "captivating visuals" by 2nd June (Tuesday) 2009.

The visuals should have proper captions, locational details and datelines.

[Reg the photo above: "EVM Awareness on Horse-cart: 29 April 2009: BDO Galsi 2, Burdwan"]

(Please also refer to our memo nos. 4536-Home(Elec) dated 18.5.2009, 4605-Home(Elec) dated 25.5.2009 and my earlier blog posted in this site on 5.4.2009 with title "Advisory: Photograph and Documentation" )

Special EPIC Campaign for Alia hit areas

Cyclone Alia.

Those who have lost their EPICs in the Cyclone Alia can get duplicates free. DEOs should organise special campaigns for this. Formal circular being issued.

Post-Counting Clean Up

All DEOs are advised to ensure that premises used as Counting Venues, DCRCs etc are cleaned up and restored to its original condition by the agency that had been engaged for constructing the temporary infrastructure in the venue.
No payment may be made unless the agency produces a certificate from the officials of the school/ college/ institution that the restoration / clean-up has been made to their satisfaction.

Hourly Poll Percentage Reports: Calling 3rd Phase Districts

As desired by the Commission, for the 3rd phase, poll percentage figures should be compiled hourly and transmitted to us.

Necessary action may be taken by all accordingly.

Advisory: Separate Queue for Senior Citizens

Senior Citizens may be given preference in voting. Form separate queues if required. Further: as indicated earlier, try to use benches in the front of the queue so that people can sit instead of stand in the queue - at least the ones who are closer to the door and so may have been waiting for a while.

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. 

Dry Run of State-Wide Communication Plan on 1.4.2009

Between 12 noon and 4 pm, officers at all levels - State, District, Subdivision and Block - are expected to contact booth-wise contact persons to see if the Communication System is working, that the Contact Person is responding**.

Thereafter corrective action should be taken. A district-wise factual report should be sent to State Communication Officer by 6 pm on 1.4.2009 by email* to

santanujan@yahoo.com

 with the words "DRY RUN: Feedback, ____ District" in the Subject Line by District Communication Officer.

*  (no fax/ written report, please).

** 100% target verification by BDOs/ Sector Officers advised; 25% target by SDOs/EROs; 5% target by DEOs 

Advisory on Effective Training to PP

1. Train PPs in small batches. Use Sector Officers for training PPs.

2. Take a test. Multiple choice. On second day of training. Correction by the PPs themselves, by interchanging so that everyone checks the script of his neighbour...Spl late evening training to those who don't qualify

Advisory on Strong Room

Use temporary bamboo-and-wood racks (record-room / library-style) to increase the holding capacity of EVMs in strong rooms. Increased capacity will be required since now all 7 ACs will be counted in one venue and availability of rooms is sometimes a problem.

Counting Centre : Rationalise

We've issued new guidelines for rationalising counting centres. DEOs may please rethink in depth and re-organise and propose. For making any exceptions, DEOs will have to speak to me with reasons.
Basically it says as follows:
1. All ACs in one PC to be counted in one premise.
2. Counting Centre to be in PC
3. If adequate number of halls is not there, counting may be taken up AC-wise, sequentially.
This calls for a break from tradition and lateral thinking.
-CEO