Bengaluru: The Election Commission on Wednesday held meetings with top state officials to review the preparations for the May 12 Karnataka Assembly elections, an election official said.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Om Prakash Rawat and Election Commissioners (ECs) Sunil Arora and Ashok Lavasa held a series of meetings with high officials, including Chief Secretary Ratna Prabha, Director General of Police Neelamani Raju and Secretaries of the departments concerned for the smooth conduct of polls in 224 Assembly segments, the official told IANS.
The CEC and two ECs arrived here on a three-day visit to review state administration’s preparedness for the peaceful conduct of elections.
The EC officers will on Thursday meet Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police of all 30 districts to take stock of preparations, including security measures put in place at 56,696 polling booths.
They will meet representatives of national and regional political parties on Friday regarding observance of Model Code of Conduct till the poling date, especially during campaigning.
The southern state has 4.96 crore electors, including 2.52 crore men and 2.44 crore women. As many as 4,500 transgenders have also registered to cast their votes.
A total of 15,42,000 persons in the 18-19 age group are first-time voters.
In all, 3,56,552 security personnel will be deployed for the polling. Counting of votes will be taken up on May 15.
The poll panel has released publicity material and video clips on various initiatives taken by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for the Karnataka Assembly Elections slated for Saturday, May 12, 2018.
Sakhi/Pink booths
The first video clip was regarding Sakhi/ Pink booths. The video features as to how for the first time in Karnataka Assembly Elections, the ECI will set up women-only polling booths. These pink polling booths will have completely female staff including presiding officers, polling officers, micro observers and security personnel. The pink booths are aimed at empowering women and increasing their participation in the poll process. Around 450 polling booths in Karnataka will have Sakhi polling stations.
Facilities for PWDs
The second video featured on various facilities offered for specially abled voters. The video shows as to how the ECI has conducted door-to-door survey and has identified persons with disabilities (PWD). Each of the polling booths will be equipped with wheel chair, magnifying glass among other progressive initiatives. The personnel at the polling station will ensure that physically challenged electors are given priority for entering the polling station; without having to wait in the queue for other electors and all necessary assistance will be provided to them at the polling station. The polling booths will have facilities where in the voters can take their wheel- chair inside the polling station. In the polling stations where permanent ramps have not been provided, temporary ramps have been created. The personnel at the polling station have been instructed that physically challenged electors are given priority for entering the polling station, without having to wait in the queue for other electors and all necessary assistance to be provided.
Sensitizing Primitive Tribes
The third video clip featured on sensitizing primitive tribes. The video features some of the primitive tribes who have settled in remote areas of Chamarajanagar, Kodagu, Mysuru, Udupi, Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada districts. The video features the tribal people expressing their happiness at various initiatives taken up by EC to boost voting. Tribal women are seen talking highly about VVPAT and EVMs and how these machines have brought in the transparency in voting.
