Senior officers directed to ensure smooth conduct of elections in Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur: A review meeting was held today under the chairmanship of District Election Officer Ananya Mittal at the Collectorate Auditorium in Jamshedpur. The meeting included senior and in-charge officers of all election-related cells to assess preparations for the upcoming 2024 Assembly Elections. The primary focus was on ensuring mutual coordination and strict adherence to the guidelines set by the Election Commission to guarantee fair, transparent, independent, and fear-free elections.

Mittal reviewed the progress of key cells responsible for the election process, including the Personnel Cell, Material Cell, EVM Cell, Vehicle Cell, Law and Order Cell, Expenditure Account Cell, Training Cell, and Media Cell, among others. Each cell provided updates on their action plans, and special attention was given to the polling booths’ infrastructure. The District Election Officer emphasized ensuring the availability of ramps, electricity, drinking water, toilets, wheelchairs, and proper access roads to facilitate voters, especially Persons with Disabilities (PWD).

The Vehicle Cell was instructed to finalize the assessment and acquisition of vehicles for election use, with clear instructions that all vehicles required for election duties will be managed by the Vehicle Cell.  Mittal also mentioned that the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) would come into effect once the Election Commission announces the election dates, and the MCC cell was tasked with ensuring its strict compliance.

The District Election Officer also highlighted the need for voter awareness through the Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program. The SVEEP cell was directed to run awareness campaigns targeting different voter groups, including senior citizens, youth, women, and marginalized communities, to encourage participation in the electoral process. Special efforts were to be made in areas with historically low voter turnout, and the use of postal ballots for absentee voters was to be widely publicized.

Mittal urged all senior officers to hold regular meetings, ensure proper coordination, and complete their election-related duties within the stipulated timeframe to ensure smooth election conduct. He reiterated that the top priority of the district administration is to conduct fair and transparent elections without fear or external influence.

Key officials present at the meeting included Project Director ITDA  Deepak Chaudhary, ADM Law and Order  Aniket Sachan, SDM Dhalbhum Shatabdi Majumdar, Director NEP, District Planning Officer, District Supply Officer, and other senior officers from the Municipal Corporation and various departments.

Banks to report transactions over ₹10 Lakh

Jamshedpur: In a move to enhance transparency and ensure strict monitoring of election expenditure, District Election Officer  Ananya Mittal and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)  Kishore Kaushal held a crucial meeting with enforcement agencies at the Collectorate auditorium today. The focus of the meeting was the effective use of the Election Seizure Management System (ESMS) app, recently launched by the Election Commission, to track and report election-related seizures.

The ESMS app is designed to provide real-time data on the seizure of cash, liquor, weapons, drugs, and other illegal items during the election period. Officers were directed to ensure all such activities, particularly those conducted by the Flying Squad Teams (FST) and Static Surveillance Teams (SST), are promptly recorded online through the app and portal.

SSP  Kaushal underscored the need for heightened security once the MCC comes into effect. He announced that check posts and CCTV cameras will be installed at inter-district and inter-state borders, while FST and SST teams will be activated. Additionally, banks will be required to report any transactions or withdrawals exceeding ₹10 lakh to the enforcement agencies and the Election Expenditure Monitoring Team.