Registration of eligible voters Bridging the gender gap Winning over voter apathy in registration Ensuring quick redressal of grievances Confidence building among voters Catering to young and urban voters through IT Ensuring higher voters’ turn out on the day of poll Increasing electoral participation through increased stakeholders’

Burdwan is a district with 54.5 lakh voters and 26 Assembly segments where we achieved the target of 100% EPIC coverage and 100% PER.

CBMs in all the identified vulnerable pockets and among the vulnerable voters. DM, ADMs, ROs, SDMs, Dy Magistrates, BDOs, extension officers and hundreds of Sector Magistrates visited each and every vulnerable pocket multiple times. Feedback and corrective measures Video 1 (BDO and OC of police station interacting with voters) Video 1 Video 2 (BDO and OC of police station interacting with voters) Video 2

 against 4358 in 2009 trouble-mongers booked  Almost all NBWs were executed; around 260 arrests  Seizure of 2800 bombs, 2000 explosives/detonators, 670 ammunitions, 540 illegal arms, deposition of 3800 licensed arms  Seized and destroyed around litres illicit liquor  Lodged 155 cases against various political parties, twice more against the ruling parties.  At least, one of the four ECI-mandated devices deployed in each polling station namely CAPF, Video Camera, Web casting and Micro Observer.

 Around 60,000 defacements removed.  More than 900 complaints from the pol parties and candidates disposed  Where complaints were found true, specific cases were registered with the police, people booked and arrested.  All ATRs uploaded on the District Website.

 Multi-media approach  Wall writings, Quiz/Debates, Drawing competition Leaflets, Signature Campaigns, Information Board  Writing a personalized letter to the voter and PP  Street Plays, Live TV chat shows, Human chain formation, BLO-BLA meetings  Mobile Awareness Vans equipped with audio-visual materials  Customized slides and audio-video messages beamed through cinema halls and cable TV  Awareness tableaus and various other such means to reach out to the voters  Regular Media Briefings

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Apart from the basic minimum facilities, some additional facilities were made available in many of the polling stations of the district: Sitting arrangements/Sheds Resting rooms Creche First aid facillities Wheel chairs/Medical arrangements/Ambulances Priority to infirm, blind, specially enabled & senior citizens

 Comfortable training programme for the polling personnel including those on demand  Specially designed literature for each polling person  No long queue for attendance and attestation of Form 12A at the training venues  Specifically designed audio-visual material and literature were very helpful tools in the training  Poll duty remuneration credited into bank accounts of polling personnel 12

 Nodal officers for polling personnel welfare appointed and their phone numbers mentioned in the appointment letters of polling personnel  No police tagging was done to save time and undue harassment  Tagging of SHGs to each polling station who provided the hygienic and customized food for a cost.  The arrangements for night stay at booth were made by the respective sector officers using locally available resources. 13

 Toilet kit provided to each polling parties which comprised hair oil, shampoo, water pouch, basic medicines, tooth paste, soap, mosquito coil, paper soap and Glucon D along with the polling materials which was highly appreciated by them.  Dropping of polling personnel at the pre-designated points for them to reach their homes safely after reception of materials.  The colour-coding of various stalls of DCRC was introduced for easier identification including a layout map and signages.  Model Polling Station at DCRC for on-demand training. 14

Planned DCRC arrangement The colour-coding of various stalls of DCRC was introduced for easier identification including a layout map and signages. Model Polling Station at DCRC for on-demand training.

For door step delivery of services like registration; delivery of EPIC; complaint redressal; increasing consciousness on voter turn out and ethical voting it was decided that women from the community will be engaged as vounteers Anganwadi workers, literacy workers, health workers, members of self help groups and even some NGOs were engaged as Vote-Bandhus.

The Vote-Bandhus were imparted training and given a kit, consisting of the forms like form 6, form 8 and form 8A. As they themselves belonged to the community, the Vote-Bandhus went from door to door to conscientize the voters to make them aware about ethical voting, various rights and duties as well as addressing/facilitating any concerns or complaints.

Business houses and brands offered varied discounts to the voter if they could produce their EPIC or show the marked left forefinger following two days after the voting.

 Facebook profile : Deo Burdwan  Whatsapp for informal communication  Cable television; Info Kiosks  Well-prepared website :  Web based GIS:  Live monitoring of sensitive areas  Helplines and Help Desks

V oters told about a specific mobile number to which they sent an SMS sending their EPIC number and immediately they would receive information through SMS information regarding the number of persons standing in the queue.  Those who could log on to the internet could get the same through district website.  A mobile app was also created for delivering this service to voters.

CITIZENS: Know Voter’s in Queue through web site Burdwan District Website( Enter EPIC Number in the input area under “Type EPIC Number” and Click on “SEARCH QUEUE” button. The following page will be displayed with the Approximate Voter’s in Queue

Thanks