The State election authority has intensified its efforts to put in place an effective mechanism to live web-cast the poll-day proceedings on April 11.
Officials concerned have decided to focus on covering close to 4,000 polling stations through web-casting rather than extending the coverage to as many polling stations as possible. The decision to confine the number of polling stations to little over 10% was taken to avoid “unnecessary” administrative burden on the election officials.
Moreover, covering 10% of the polling stations through web-casting is in line with the direction of the Election Commission, which wants effective samples to ascertain the way elections are conducted. “We are looking at establishing foolproof connectivity at the selected 4,000 polling stations, well above the stipulated 10%. Preference will be given to the polling stations that are classified as critical,” Chief Electoral Officer Rajat Kumar told The Hindu .
Though there is no shortage of equipment required for web-casting the proceedings, the election authority feels that there could be some constraints with regard to the availability of trained human resources for operating the system. The election authority is planning to address letters to the Commissioner of Collegiate Education and other institutes of higher learning seeking their cooperation in securing trained professionals for web-casting the poll-day proceedings.
“Absolute care is being taken to ensure that the personnel drafted for the duty are given their election duty certificates,” he said.
The election authority has also been taking steps to ensure that the professionals engaged in web-csating at places other than their native are provided with postal ballot. There would also be arrangements for recording the proceedings through CCTV cameras and laptops along with web-cameras. There would be 100 % electronic surveillance at all the polling stations.
