 Systematic collection, analysis and fast action on media reports is must during campaign period  Checking veracity of shadow register, cross checking of shadow register and candidate register, etc is very difficult at the level of DEO and above  Making the whole experience of EEM less cumbersome for both candidates and accounting team

 Election Expenditure Monitoring(EEMS) system is designed to facilitate the election officials to monitor candidate’s day to day expenditure during election campaign.  It also helps to track all activities( Rally, Meeting etc..) carried out by candidate during election campaign.  Features : ◦ Media Tracking ◦ Maintaining shadow register online ◦ Maintaining candidate register online ◦ Cross verifying shadow register and candidate register entries Introduction

Media Tracking All reports covered in local print media regarding electioneering activities which have expenditure implications are scanned and reported to Election Expenditure Cell. Nodal Expenditure Monitoring Officer can ask for inquiry report of SDM/ARO (if needed), the report is also submitted online along with the comments of the Nodal Officer, the case is forwarded to RO/Collector who has the option to close it or send it back again for further comments. In this fashion, all media reports are tracked and accounted for in Expenditure Cell. All previous filed reports and inquiries available online.

Stakeholders Involved  Media Cell (for scanning and forwarding the news reports related to expenditure)  Expenditure Cell  District Accounting Team  All AROs/SDMs  RO/Collector

EEMPALI.IN PRO OIC Expenditure ARO (All A.C.s) DEO/RO (Collector) Admin Login user type

Work flow of EEM

Enter your Username Enter your Password Login Screen

Media Cell Login View

Media Cell Login Related Processes One Separate login is created for Public Relation officer for scanning and forwarding the news reports related to expenditure. These news reports are then forwarded to Expenditure Cell for further action. PRO can also monitor all the reports forwarded by him through Forwarded Report Tab.

F orwarded Report View ( Media cell Login )

Dashboard View ( OIC Exp. Login )

 Similarly OIC expenditure can monitor/process reports through his login.  This dashboard displays information about total number of reports and pending reports at each level i.e. OIC (Exp.), ARO & DEO, which have been forwarded by Media cell.  Its also provides information about total number of reports closed by the DEO.  It also display information about total expenditure of particular candidate. Home Page Dashboard (OIC Exp. Login)

 When User clicks on total expenditure, it shows candidate list for which expenditure is booked.  Similarly Clicking on candidate name, one can view candidate expenditure with all expenditure type and amount. Total Expenditure ( OIC Exp. Login)

Click here to get Total Expenditure Dashboard of candidate. Total Expenditure (OIC Exp. Login)

 In report view, user can view reports, which are forwarded by media cell or other user.  In report view, user can view read and unread reports separately.  For reading any report, user can click on report. Report View (OIC Exp. Login)

 After click on Report from Report View, user will get report detail view.  In report detail view, user can download news paper cuttings, upload any information or file about this report, forward to any other user and can give comments on the report.  In comment view on right side or report detail view user can view other users comment on the report and can download information or file which is related to the report. Report Detail (OIC Exp. Login)

User can select forward user User can upload any information about this report Report Detail (OIC Exp. Login)

 Report can be returned to that user only, who have forwarded the report earlier to him.  In report return view, user can also upload information or file related to report and give his comments about the report.  The Collector (DEO) Level can see all the return reports. Return Report

Return View (OIC Exp. Login)

 In return view, user can view which reports have been returned by other users after perusal.  At OIC Exp. level, OIC can view only those reports, which are returned by the Collector(DEO) and ARO level.  AT ARO level, ARO can view only those reports, which are returned by the Collector(DEO) level.  At Collector (DEO) level, Collector can view all actions. Return View

 After the report gets finalized by the DEO(Collector) level, he/she can close the particular report. File Close

File Close View

 In File close view, user can view, total number of files closed and reports which are closed by the DEO(Collector) level user.  Closed file can only be reopened by the DEO(Collector) level user. File Close View

 All media reports are taken to logical conclusions  Fast action – as responsibility for delay can be fixed easily.  Strict watch over candidate campaign – earlier candidates were not taking permission for small meetings  Strict watch over our machinery also – more unpermitted case means delinquency

 Candidate’s expenditure details are recorded category wise by accounts team on daily basis.  Entries include Shadow Register page number, Date of Expenditure, related candidate name and the general category under which it falls. Shadow Register Entries

Expenditure Report

 Here user can view all expenditure which is booked in shadow register.  In this user can also view expenditure by candidate name, category wise and expenditure date wise.  User can also get total amount of expenditure which is already entered in shadow register and can also compare with candidate register to get difference amount. Expenditure Report View

 Candidate expenditure, for which data and voucher has been provided by the candidate, is entered in database. Candidate Expenditure Monitoring

 In this user view, candidate expenditure details in a register form, which include voucher number, date, candidate name, expense category, amount etc.  User can filter data by candidate name and voucher number, to analyse the candidate expenditure in better way. Candidate Expenditure Register

 All entries of shadow register should be explained by some entry in candidate register.  Non verified entries reports can be generated

 Supervision of DEO easy as macro details available at click  Total surety of shadow register cross verification  Final report compilation also very easy and figures reported by accounting team can be cross checked  Expenditure being reported category is available to DEO in real time so that corrective action can be taken if required after analysis.

 Using this Panel, Admin User can :-  Add/Update/Delete Candidate Name  Add/Update/Delete Newspaper  Add/Update/Delete Category of Expenditure  Update User Password  This Admin Panel helps for Modifying Some Important Changes in website as per need. ADMIN Panel

Result So Far  From date of notification, 161 reports filed from Media Cell, out of which after inquiry 137 cases led to booking of expenditure and 24 cases were found not pertinent to expenditure filing.  Monitoring at level of RO is much easier, as all figures, along with the classification is available at finger click. Instances found where the expenditure was tracked and booked only because the tracking done by tool showed oversight by accounting team.

Further Improvements SMS based notification to candidate regarding SOR entries (not disclosing the amount) based on media reports can be done, it shall make them more sensitive towards EC measures. Information of Expenditure can also be put in public domain, so that citizens can know in real time how much each candidate is spending in the ongoing election process. Candidate user account can also be created to provide the facility to enter the expenditure detail by candidates themselves. Information of shadow register can be provided to the contesting candidate time-to-time by after framing appropriate policy to make accounts checking less time taking process.

By : Rohit Gupta, DEO and RO Pali (15) Rajasthan