Kupwara, February 26: The Deputy Commissioner/District Election Officer, Kupwara, Ms. Ayushi Sudan Monday chaired a meeting with Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) and Nodal Officers here at the Meeting Hall of DC Office Complex to review the preparations for upcoming Lok Sabha Elections-2024.
At the outset, the DC Kupwara held a detailed discussion with the AROs, Nodal Officers and illustrated various important aspects of the Parliamentary Election process ensuring smooth and peaceful elections in all 6 assembly segments of Kupwara District.
During the meeting, the Deputy Commissioner held deliberations with regard to continuous updation of electoral rolls, contingency plan for all 6 assembly segments, vulnerability mapping, status of control rooms at all AC level, AC wise SVEEP Plan, establishment of AROs office, physical inspection of polling stations, inspection of strong rooms, dispersal, receiving centres and earmarking of check points.
While reviewing the status of control rooms, IT cells, and offices of AROs, DC directed the concerned Officers to establish the control rooms; IT Cells at AC level and maintain AROs office.
DC emphasized upon the AROs and Nodal Officers to understand their responsibilities and put in place all the necessary arrangements as per guidelines of ECI.
DC directed AROs to conduct special camps in every assembly constituency for enrolment of left out PWD voters, and rope in PWD associations for identification of left out PWD voters. She stressed upon the concerned officers to get the electoral rolls continuously updated from BLOs by conducting door-to-door surveys, and focusing on adding more voters.
The BLOs were directed to ensure an improved EP (Electorate Population) ratio and gender ratio, aligning them with the national ratio.
DC further highlighted the importance of ensuring that youth, women, senior citizens (especially those aged 80 plus), persons with disabilities (PwDs), and other vulnerable sections of society are not left out during the exercise.
DC/DEO directed the officers to conduct physical verification of each and every polling station/ location to ensure the availability of all assured minimum facilities, so as to ensure that no voter or poll staff faces any kind of difficulty during elections.
DC directed to identify the green polling stations for plantation of eco-friendly plant saplings and stressed for deployment of requisite number of polling staff for each polling station.
While reviewing the contingency plan, DC directed concerned to prepare a contingency plan of air sorties for snow bound areas of Karnah, Keran, Machil, Jumgund, Budnumbal and Kamkadi (incase of snowfall and closure of passes during the election time) and also identify alternative polling stations for those polling stations close to LOC which are prone to shelling.
ARTO Kupwara was directed to revise the transport plan for elections and CEO Kupwara was directed to monitor SWEEP activities.
Meeting was attended by ADDC, Kupwara, Gulzar Ahmad Bhat, GM DIC, ACR, ACD, ACP, DY. DEO, SDM Karnah , SDM Lolab, CEO Kupwara, ARTO, other Officers and officials from District Election Office.
Later a training/orientation session was held on EVM and election related aspects which was conducted by GM, DIC/National Level Master Trainer, Sameer Jan, and ACR Kupwara/ State Level Master Trainer, Irfan Bahadur.
