A crucial meeting to streamline the voting process in West Bengal's urban areas is set for Tuesday in Kolkata. A high-level team from the Election Commission of India (ECI), led by Deputy Election Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti, will convene with District Election Officers (DEOs) from the city and its adjoining districts.
Focus on Urban Polling Infrastructure
The primary agenda of the meeting is to assess and expedite the process of establishing polling booths within high-rise buildings and group housing societies. This initiative aims to make voting more accessible for residents of large residential complexes, reducing travel time and congestion at traditional polling stations.
The DEOs expected to attend the session at the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office represent Kolkata North, Kolkata South, North 24 Parganas, South 24 Parganas, Howrah, and Hooghly districts. Deputy Election Commissioner Bharti will arrive in Kolkata on Tuesday specifically for this review.
Reviewing the SIR Exercise and Past Directive
Bharti is also scheduled to review the progress of the Summary Revision (SIR) exercise in the state. This meeting follows an earlier directive from the EC, which instructed DEOs to conduct surveys of specific residential areas.
As per the EC's order, the survey was to cover high-rise buildings, group housing societies, RWA colonies, slums, and gated communities that contain at least 250 houses or 500 eligible voters. The DEOs were tasked with identifying which of these locations could be feasibly used as polling stations and submitting a compiled list to the Commission.
Slow Progress in Implementation
Despite the directive, the response from districts has been notably slow. Reports indicate that only the DEO of Kolkata South has submitted a list, naming just two housing complexes as potential sites for polling booths. This lack of comprehensive data from other districts is likely a key point of discussion in the upcoming meeting, as the EC pushes for faster implementation to prepare for future electoral processes.
The meeting underscores the Election Commission's focused efforts to enhance voter convenience and infrastructure in densely populated urban centers of West Bengal, with Kolkata being a major area of focus.
