Jaipur: Election Commission of India has chosen Jaipur to set up the country’s first regional voters’ awareness centre.
The regional SVEEP (Systematic Voters’ Education and Electoral Participation programme) Centre will conduct voters’ awareness activities and programmes for the states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh.
“Jaipur is set to be distinguished as being the first SVEEP Regional Centre of the ECI in the country. As a stepping stone in this direction, a 3,385 square metre piece of land for construction of the SVEEP Regional Centre, has been allotted by the state government in Indira Gandhi Nagar, Jagatpura,” Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said.
Arora, who was in the city to conduct a review meeting with the officials of the Election Department, informed that entire cost of construction of the Centre will be borne by the ECI.
The CEC drew attention towards the implementation of detailed guidelines issued by the commission for smooth conduct of polls in context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CEC re-emphasised upon the need to ensure the maximum utilisation of digital media platforms for organising various meetings, webinars, video conferences and training.
He said that Pre-Revision activities as well as the Special Summary Revision of Electoral Rolls- 2021 should be carried out by undertaking a pragmatic approach in light of the present COVID-19 Pandemic.
Arora asked the officials to encourage voters for online registration and the department should also adopt the online procedures to fit in with the changing times, in order to ensure work as well as also ensure survival in the context of COVID-19. The CEC apprised the participants about the Commission’s endeavour to ensure ‘Ease of Voting’ for geriatrics and senior citizens.
“The latest provision in this regard is the introduction of the facility of postal ballot, so that their physical presence at the Polling Station will not be warranted,” he said.
He also directed to expand the SVEEP outreach, and make it more penetrative. The review meeting was attended by Chief Electoral Officer, Rajasthan Praveen Gupta, Deputy CEC Ashish Kundra, Additional CEO Krishna Kunal, and other senior officials of the department.
