The Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar held a workshop to Sensitize Telangana Police Officials.
“After conducting vulnerability mapping of polling stations according to the ECI’s guidelines, the police must take preventive measures that will instill confidence among the public in the run-up, during and after the electoral process,” directed Chief Electoral Officer, Mr.Rajat Kumar at a workshop held to sensitize Telangana police officials, in Hyderabad on Friday. “Vulnerability mapping is a form of risk assessment of polling stations that takes into consideration names rather than numbers and reveals the various threats to the conduct of peaceful and free and fair elections in the State.”
Mr. Rajat Kumar urged the police officials present to download the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and familiarize themselves with the intricate guidelines. “The exhaustive and in-depth MCC guidelines must be disseminated across the rank and file of the police force.”
The Highlighting the EC’s special mission to include differently abled voters, the CEO urged the police officials to take extra effort in aiding them in exercising their franchise. “I have already spoken to the Principal Secretary, Transport, and he has agreed to deploy buses to bring the differently abled from their doorsteps to the respective polling stations”, he said while sharing his views expressed at a national conference to sensitize CEOs regarding the plight of the differently abled, held earlier during the year.
Mr. Rajat Kumar said, his office was prepared to train police officers in sign-language among other skills necessary to aid these voters at polling stations. “Since the police are at the front-end of the electoral machinery, they must show respect and sympathy towards the differently abled. Any extra step forward would go a long way in creating a positive electoral environment.
The “Planning and establishing a robust communication system to enable detailed reporting in real-time is vital for the successful conduct of elections in the State,” concluded the CEO.
The state police officials were also briefed by officers of the CEO’s office. Additional CEO, Mr. V. Saida explained the various mechanisms to monitor candidates’ expenditure, violation of Model Code of Conduct guidelines, misuse of government machinery and restrictions on campaigning.
The Joint CEO Amrapali Kata, in charge of SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation), spoke about various mobile applications such as Suvidha and explained the various aspects regarding the operation of c-Vigil.
Additional CEO Buddha Prakash Jyoti explained the various aspects of EVMs and VVPATS and conducted a live demonstration for the participants.
The workshop was presided by senior police officials –DGP Mahender Reddy IPS, ADG-Law & Order Jitender, IPS, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar and Somesh Kumar IAS, Principal Secretary and Commissioner, Excise & Prohibition.
