Mobile phones, iPads, laptops, smart watches, cameras and other electronic devices will not be allowed in the counting hall
By SHRI RAM SHAW
RAIPUR: Chief Electoral Officer of Chhattisgarh, Smt. Reena Babasaheb Kangale visited Rajnandgaon, Durg and Mahasamund and inspected the preparations for the counting of votes to be held on June 4. She took stock of the security arrangements of EVMs kept in strong rooms in all three district headquarters. She inspected the counting rooms being prepared for counting of votes.
Mrs. Kangale also gave necessary directions to the officials regarding various arrangements at the counting venue for uninterrupted and well-organized vote counting. Additional Chief Electoral Officer Nileshkumar Mahadev Kshirsagar, Assistant Chief Electoral Officer Mrs. Rashmi Verma and Commissioner of Durg Division Satyanarayan Rathore, Collector and District Election Officer of the three districts, Superintendent of Police, Deputy District Election Officer and Assistant Returning Officer were also present during the visit.
Kangale took stock of assembly-wise counting rooms, meeting arrangements of candidates and their counting agents, entry passes, monitoring through CCTV cameras, videography on the day of counting, security arrangements, barricading, postal ballots and VVPAT slips, counting arrangements, media center and announcement venue in the three districts.
She said that mobile phones, iPads, laptops, smart watches, cameras and other electronic devices would be banned in the counting hall. Media representatives can take mobile phones to the media centre. She directed the media representatives to observe the counting of votes in small groups. After observing the drawing-design of the counting venue and counting rooms, Mrs. Kangale gave instructions to display it in the counting venue for the convenience of the election agents so that the agents can easily reach their designated counting rooms. She also inspected the routes made to reach the assembly-wise counting rooms in the counting venue.
Mrs. Kangale discussed with the Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) at the counting sites in the three districts and gave necessary instructions regarding the arrangement of tables for counting. She also inquired about the arrangements for bringing the control unit from the strong room to the counting room and back for counting of votes.
She also discussed with the representatives of political parties present outside the strong room and took feedback regarding the security and monitoring arrangements of the strong room and the arrangements at the counting venue. The representatives of the parties expressed satisfaction, describing the security arrangements as satisfactory.
Ex-gratia to sons of a deceased woman worker
Kangale, who reached Durg to take stock of the preparations for counting of votes, gave a check of a total amount of Rs 15 lakh as ex-gratia compensation amount to the two sons of woman worker Mrs. Madhu Banjare who died during election duty. She gave a check of Rs 7.5 lakh to Mr Nitin Kumar Banjare, sons of Late Smt. Madhu Banjare and Rs 7.5 lakh to Vipin Kumar Banjare at the Circuit House in Durg.
On Lok Sabha election duty, election worker Mrs. Madhu Banjare died in an accident near Kumhari on May 8. Under the provisions of Chhattisgarh State Ex-gratia Compensation Payment Rules 2009, the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer had recommended payment of a total ex-gratia compensation amount of Rs 15 lakh to her heirs, sons Nitin Kumar Banjare and Vipin Kumar Banjare.