Self-help groups in the city will be monitored by video surveillance teams formed by the district election office.
“The surveillance teams have begun monitoring 25,428 SHGs in Chennai district. We have called for the daily report of SHG and NGO activities,” said Chennai Corporation Commissioner and District Election Officer D.Karthikeyan. Training for the video surveillance teams was held at Ripon Building on Saturday.
The Tamil Nadu Corporation for Development of Women has been asked to assist the NGOs and the SHGs in dissemination of information to all members and ensure that they do not distribute money or materials to voters.
The video viewing team and the static surveillance team would also be involved in curbing the practice of distribution of money to voters, said Mr.Karthikeyan. The video viewing team would be guided by an assistant executive engineer of the civic body.
The Corporation has asked all banks, including public sector banks, in the city to intimate big cash transactions to the district election officials.
The activities of the SHGs would also be monitored daily.
The measures have been taken to prevent SHGs and NGOs from being made conduits by candidates for distribution of money or materials during election campaigns. This is a corrupt practice and an electoral offence with reference to the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the IPC.
Complaints on distribution of money or materials to voters may also be lodged on the toll free numbers of the district election office 1800-425-2010 and 1800-425-2011.
