By Amrit Pal Sidhu
Fatehgarh Sahib, October 2:
Chief Electoral Officer, Punjab, Anindita Mitra, IAS, visited District Fatehgarh Sahib and reviewed the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls as well as the district’s preparedness for the forthcoming electoral process.
During her visit, Anindita. Mitra held a detailed meeting with the District Election Officials and concerned election authorities to take stock of the progress of the SIR exercise. The meeting focused on ensuring effective coordination among various election functionaries, strengthening preparedness at the district level and ensuring that all activities related to electoral roll revision are carried out in accordance with the prescribed guidelines and timelines.
The CEO Punjab emphasized the importance of accuracy, transparency and coordination during the revision exercise. She reviewed the status of various activities being undertaken by the district election machinery and stressed the need for close monitoring at every level so that eligible citizens are facilitated in the electoral registration process and the electoral rolls remain accurate and updated.
She also interacted with the officials regarding field-level implementation of the SIR process and reviewed the preparedness of the district administration to address issues arising during the exercise. The officers were directed to maintain close coordination among all stakeholders and ensure that the instructions of the Election Commission of India (ECI) are implemented in letter and spirit.
As part of the ongoing poll preparedness, Ms. Anindita Mitra, IAS, also visited the EVM-VVPAT Warehouse in District Fatehgarh Sahib to personally inspect the arrangements for the secure storage and management of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) units.
During the inspection, she reviewed the security and management arrangements at the warehouse and took stock of the measures being followed for the safe custody of EVMs and VVPATs. The inspection was conducted in accordance with the established protocols and guidelines of the Election Commission of India.
Ms. Mitra emphasized that EVMs and VVPATs are critical components of the electoral process and their secure storage, systematic management, proper documentation and adherence to prescribed protocols must be ensured at all times. She directed the concerned officials to remain vigilant and ensure strict compliance with all ECI guidelines governing the handling and storage of election-related equipment.
The CEO Punjab also reviewed the overall preparedness of the district election machinery and underscored the importance of maintaining the highest standards of security, transparency, accountability and procedural compliance throughout the electoral process.
Anindita Mitra said “The visit provided an opportunity to assess both the progress of the SIR exercise and the operational preparedness of the district for future electoral activities”.
District Election Officials and other concerned officers apprised the CEO Punjab of the arrangements and ongoing work being undertaken at the district level.