District Collector Mini Antony said that every necessary measures would be adopted to ensure the welfare of the polling officers stationed at the various polling stations.
Ms. Antony presided over a meeting of the Welfare Committee here on Monday to review the arrangements in this regard.
Medical assistance will be provided to officials stationed at the polling booths and the centres where the electronic voting machines (EVMs) are stored as and when required. A medical team, including doctors, has been set up. Moreover, necessary medicine stocks and ambulance facilities will be ensured.
Uninterrupted supply of power and pure water will also be made available at the booths on the day of the election and on the previous day. Such arrangements in the district will be constantly reviewed by a committee that is headed by the District Medical Officer (DMO).
Likewise, Superintendents of Taluk Hospitals will chair similar committees in the taluk-level. Tahsildars have been directed to constitute such bodies in consultation with the respective Returning Officers.
A control room of the Welfare Committee will commence operations at the district centre under the supervision of the DMO. Necessary medical assistance will also be provided to any polling official on duty.
Ms. Antony also called for employing the services of the National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers, Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Social Welfare Department and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
DMO, superintendents of various hospitals and heads of various departments attended the meeting.
Directive on campaigning
Ms. Antony warned political parties against the use of educational institutions for the purpose of election campaigning, according to an official release.
She has notified that the premises and facilities of government, private and aided institutions should not be used for election rallies, meetings or other campaigning methods. Stringent actions will be initiated against those found violating the directive.
Training
The second phase of training for polling officers in the district will be held on April 7 and 8.
