DEO Baramulla chairs election meet with EROs, AEROs

Baramulla, Jul 13: In a step towards conduct of Assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir, the District Election Officer (DEO)/ Deputy Commissioner (DC) Baramulla, Dr Syed Sehrish Asgar Wednesday discussed rationalization of polling stations and other related issues in an officers meeting held at Meeting Hall, here.
The meeting was attended by Additional Deputy Commissioner Baramulla, Zahoor Ahmad Raina; Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Peerzada Mumtaz Ahmad; SDMs besides Tehsildars and other functionaries of concerned departments.
During the meeting, a threadbare discussion was held with regard to election process including proposal for appointment of EROs, AEROs for new ACs as per delimitation order, proposal for rationalization of polling station, GIS Mapping of all constituencies, Voters list updation and submission of district SVEEP plan
Addressing the officers in the meeting, the District Election Officer directed the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) to work out proposals for rationalization of polling stations as per the norms set by the Election Commission of India.
She also said that the political parties should be taken on board during the rationalization process.
Further, the DEO instructed the concerned officers to ensure Ramp facility in every polling station in addition to availability of water supply, electricity and sanitary facilities.
On the occasion, the DEO also directed the EROs and AEROs to work in close coordination and conduct physical verification of polling stations and give their suggestions, if any at the earliest to facilitate appropriate action as per the ECI guidelines and to submit the proposals for rationalization of polling stations such in a time bound manner.
Meanwhile, the DEO also inspected the warehouse of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and reviewed their safety and security. She directed the concerned to ensure round the clock functioning of CCTVs, so as to ensure the safety and security of EVMs.
Later, the District Election Officer also interacted with the representatives of various political parties at Dak Bungalow here wherein the DEO heard their issues with regard to the rationalization of polling stations.
On the occasion, representatives of political parties raised many issues before the DEO which include updation of voters list and appointment of politically neutral Booth Level Officers (BLOs), thereby sought the intervention of the DEO in redressing the issues.
They further requested that the rationalization of polling stations should be done in a Voter friendly manner so as to ensure the maximum participation of the voters.
After listening to the issues of the political parties patiently, the DEO made all the representatives realize that the identification of polling locations and their rationalization is the priority of the government and will be done in a voter friendly manner.