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New Delhi : The Election Commission of India (ECI) on January 14, 2022, organised a briefing meeting for Observers to be deployed for the forthcoming General Elections to the Legislative Assemblies of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh.
The schedule for these assembly elections was announced on January 8, 2022. Over 1,400 officials attended the sessions with 140 Officials attending it physically at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, and the rest joining virtually from States/UTs. Officers drawn from IAS, IPS, IRS, and other Accounts Services across the country are deployed as General, Police and Expenditure Observers.
Addressing the Observers, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sushil Chandra said that Observers during elections are the eyes and ears of the Election Commission of India and should be totally in command with eagle-eye on issues to ensure the conduct of free, fair, transparent, and safe elections. Chandra advised Observers to be updated with all electoral processes including Postal ballot facility for Absentee Voters in the category of Sr citizens, PwD electors, and Covid-19 suspects or affected persons; and remain vigilant for any lapses in Model Code of Conduct and other ECI guidelines; and strict enforcement of extant Covid guidelines as also counting procedures.
While stressing on the Commission’s zero-tolerance towards abuse of money power or any kind of inducements, the CEC urged Expenditure Observers to sharpen their skills and be innovative in countering newer methods of inducement. He asked Observers to ensure proper publicity of cVIGIL App to empower citizens to report cases of violation to ensure prompt action by Flying Squads, Surveillance teams.
The CEC during his address, directed that all the three Observers (General, Police & Expenditure) should work in coordination with Enforcement Agencies. He asked the Observers to visit more and more Polling Booths to check for Assured Minimum Facilities to facilitate senior citizens, Persons with Disabilities and women voters, according to a PIB release.
Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar, during his address, highlighted that the Observer system has now got well established and it’s an elaborate and robust interface of the Election Commission for guidance for field functionaries. He said Observers play a cardinal role in conduct of elections and thus need to be accessible and visible to the voters, candidates, and political parties, to personally attend to their suggestions and grievance redressal.
Election Commissioner Anup Chandra Pandey while acknowledging that conducting elections amidst Covid-19 is challenging,exhorted the designated Observers to ensure that the level playing field is maintained for all Political Parties and candidates. He said the ECI has stood the test of time in ensuring free, fair, transparent, inclusive, and safe elections, and experienced officers posted as Observers should act as guides and mentors to field officials.
During the half-day long sessions, Secretary General ECI Umesh Sinha briefed the observers on Election Planning, Security Management & SVEEP aspects. During his address, he also highlighted the crucial role of Observers as Ombudsman who must report issues to the ECI on a real time basis as also ensure their own neutral, ethical and cordial conduct when on the ground.