DEO Leh Santosh chairs meeting regarding forthcoming General Elections to Lok Sabha

LEH, March 26: The District Election Officer/ Deputy Commissioner, Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve chaired a meeting in view for the forthcoming General Elections to Lok Sabha today on March 26 in the VC room, DC office.

The eight point agenda of the meeting included distribution of Electronic Photo Identity Cards (EPICs), Polling stations and Assured Minimum Facility (AMF), Systematic Voters’s Education and Electoral Participation program (SVEEP) campaigns, Electoral Rolls status, identification of PWDs and 85+ electors for postal ballot facility, addition/deletion/correction after announcement of elections, vulnerability mapping and absentee/shifted/dead (ASD) list.

DC, Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve instructed the SDMs and Tehsildars of the Leh district to ensure the distribution of EPICs. He asked them to conduct random checkings at the polling stations and at the villages to ensure that the voters have received the EPICs. Along with this, he instructed them to visit the villages to oversee the reasons for low electoral roll, check the facilities at polling stations and spread awareness about  SVEEP. 

Furthermore, he stated all the polling stations should have the facilities under AMF, mainly ramp, drinking water, toilet facility and electricity.

To ensure an increase in voter percentage, he asked the SDMs and Tehsildars to identify PWD and 85+ voters so that they can be given the option of postal ballot. In view of the low voter turnout in the last elections, DC, Leh set a target of 80% for the upcoming elections and stated that the percentage should not go below 75%. He asked them to ensure that there is maximum voter turnout in their divisions.

Additionally, the SDMs and Tehsildars acting as Assistant Electoral Registration Officer(AERO)  raised their concerns regarding issues related to the polling stations. DC, Leh, Santosh Sukhadeve assured them that he will talk to the concerned departments to provide immediate solutions.

A review meeting will be held again in the first week of April as instructed by DC, Leh, Santosh Sukahdeve.

The meeting was attended by the Electoral Registration Officer/ Additional District Commissioner, Leh, Ghulam Mohd (JKAS), Nodal Officer, SVEEP, Leh, Tajamul Ara and all the SDMs and Tehsildars of the sub-divisions.