Conduct of Elections in Kandhamal, Orissa Special Measures in times of Conflict Dr. Krishan Kumar, Collector and D.M., Kandhamal, Orissa.
Background & Context : District Profile One of most backward district located in central Orissa Schedule-V Tribal district Large concentration of Minority Community mainly Christian Two main Ethnic groups: Kandho (ST) & Pano (SC) Highly adverse geographical terrain
Background & Context : Law & Order Situation Mistrust and animosity mainly on ethnic lines because of multifarious reasons. Runs deep in most of tribal villages. Age old history of violence- Main riots in 1986-87, 1993-94, 2007 Off late conflict has taken religious connotations of being Hindus (mainly Tribal Community) Vs Christians (mainly SC community) But Violence in August-Oct was unprecedented in history of Orissa & Kandhamal and had huge
Background & Context : The Violence More than 25,000 persons left their houses and reported in relief camps. More than 4800 houses were damaged. More than 50 deaths Livelihood disrupted and no cultivation took place in the season 118 no. of shops were damaged
Background & Context : The Violence 229 no. of religious places were damaged (mainly churches) 04 no. of SHGs damaged 12 no. of public institutions damaged Police Station and two Police Outposts were bombed off.
Fears, Perceptions and the Challenges Fear of disenfranchisement Deletion of Names Loss of identity cards especially EPIC cards Perceptions that election campaigning may be held on highly divisive and hate agenda. How people staying in relief camps, who belonged to different polling stations, will go to their villages to vote in an atmosphere of fear? Possibility of inadequate participation by minority community in view of lack of confidence in electoral processes. Whether district with inhospitable terrain and large communication shadows can respond to any emergent situation?
Contd.. Whether trouble makers can be stopped from creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation? How people, who have migrated to outside the district and state, will be able to visit their villages & vote without any fear in their mind? Will Left Wing Extremism (LWE) add a new dimension to already complicated situation? How to deal with likely 24x7 live coverage of elections by national and international media, NGOs and activists?
Whether Elections should be conducted in Kandhamal?
The Response: Objectives, Planning & Special Strategy Objectives Firstly, delivering free, fair and peaceful elections Secondly, measures to directly address concerns of victims of violence.
The Response Two fold Firstly, general strengthening of implementation of electoral processes Secondly, Special Measures
The Response : General Measures No deletions on ground of temporary absence (displacement) of electors- EROs to enquire. Close watch on polling stations reporting more than usual increase in addition list in electoral rolls Campaign to increase EPIC coverage. The EPIC coverage increased from 76.81% to 90.19%. Candidates marked for 24x7 Video coverage of campaign. Strict action taken against two candidates including arrest of Shri Ashok Sahu, a candidate from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for giving inflammatory speech.
Contd.. Village-wise mapping of trouble makers & more than 3000 no. of persons booked under preventive sections of Cr.P.C. Senior Officers were deployed in sensitive areas for taking up village visit programme for explaining various arrangements being made for free, fair and peaceful elections. Regular joint visits by Executive Magistrates and Police were taken up in areas which had fragile ethnic and communal relations. Constant interaction and meetings with members of minority groups and civil society organizations Adequate force from Central Para Military Force (CPMF) and State Police
The Response: Special Strategy Three Components Voter Assistance Cell (VAC) Measures for Relief Camps Special Sector Plan
1 st Component: Voter Assistance Cell Well equipped cell in Office of D.E.O Appointment of Nodal Officer- VAC Two Help Lines 1 st Helpline 1800-345-6768 Toll Free From Any where in India 2 nd Helpline 06842-253058
V.A.C: Functions To assist voters in locating their names in Electoral Rolls and Polling Booths To help victims of violence in getting duplicate EPICs To assist victims of violence, staying outside district, in availing security by registering their names in this Cell Any other matter to facilitate exercise of voting rights by such individuals.
V.A.C: Supervision and Monitoring All calls registered & given a Unique No EROs, BDOs, Tahsildars and other officials to urgent action Daily review by DEO of calls received and action taken Review by CEO, Orissa & ECI
V.A.C: Results Total Calls : 504 424 for duplicate EPICs 19 for security 61 others
2 nd Component: Measures for Relief Camps At one point > 25000 persons in relief camps During March-April 3176 persons in relief camps They belong to different Polling Stations
Will they get disenfranchised? Or Will they be able to vote?
Relief Camps: Electoral Registration & EPICs Names of all persons eligible to be voters were included in Electoral Roll Lost/Damaged EPICs replaced free of cost
Relief Camps: Confidence Building Measures Senior Officers visited relief camps along with police officers All Steps being taken to conduct free, fair and peaceful elections were explained EVM awareness campaign in camps
Relief Camps: Provision of Transportation Facilities Nodal Officer in each of relief camps Polling station wise enlisting of willing Voters Voters from nearby booths grouped together in Voting Groups Each VG provided with escort officer, dedicated transport facility and security cover
Relief Camps: Model Plan on Date of Poll in relief camps Enquiry and Announcement Counter Registration Counter Vehicle and Police Tagging Counter Documentation and Control Room Counter for Media
Relief Camps: Monitoring and Supervision Senior Supervisory Officers stationed at Block HQ Nodal Officer- Relief Camps in District Control Room Mobile Parties
Relief Camps: Result 84% voter turnout Vs 65% general trend No complain of intimidation
Special Sector Plan: Dealing with Vulnerabilities Apprehensions, fear and perceptions that there may be lower than normal participation of minorities???? Lack of confidence of the victims belonging to minority community in electoral processes????
Special Sector Plan: What is it? It is besides normal sector and Zonal planning Output of Vulnerability Mapping (VM) 5 to 10 geographically contiguous habitations were grouped together in a special sector Each such sector assigned to Special Sector Teams
Special Sector Plan: Objectives Firstly, CBMs in habitations where vulnerable groups are staying Secondly, track voting trends from such habitations on date of poll to spot low turnout areas Thirdly, if required, to effectively intervene on date of poll by escorting willing voters to nearest polling stations.
Special Sector Plan: Steps for Formation of Plan Vulnerable habitations were identified On the basis of the vulnerability Mapping (VM) exercises taken up Habitations correlated with polling stations and part of the electoral rolls to which they belonged. Further habitations were correlated with a particular section in the voters list of that particular polling station. Once all habitations were matched with particular sections of electoral rolls, 5 to 10 such sections/ habitations were grouped together on the basis of geographically contiguity to form a special sector. For each special sector, a Special Sector Team (SST) was engaged to carry out assigned responsibilities. Each Special Sector Team (SST) comprised of a Special Sector Officer, Videographer and Police personnel. This team was to be a mobile team, having a designated vehicle for it.
Special Sector Plan : Model Plan
Special Sector Plan: Duties and Responsibilities To visit all habitations included in Special Sector, at least twice, on 15.4.2009 (one day before date of poll) for taking up confidence building measures To establish points of contact with leading members of vulnerable Community like community leaders, Anganwadi Workers, Volunteers, SHG members etc & to collect their numbers, if any, and give contact details of SST/Block Control Room/District Control Room for any help required To visit on date of Poll every two to three hours To take action in cases where complaints of intimidation/fear are made and if required, to escort the willing voters to their respective Polling Stations.
Duties and Responsibilities To collect information on progress of voting of electors (Voting Trends) from Vulnerable habitations from respective Presiding Officers of Polling Stations To investigate reasons, if progress of voting from these areas do not reflect general trends To immediately contact and report to Senior Officers/Sector- Officers/Police Station/Mobile Party/Mobile Patrolling / Nearest CRPF Camp/Block Office/District Control Room, if there is any violence or thereat of violence in these habitations. To Video record critical events including visits, discussion with various members of vulnerable community and their visits to polling Stations for exercise of voting rights.
Special Sector Plan : Reporting, Monitoring and Supervision Special Sector Officers Diary giving information on visits made, persons contacted and action taken Report on Voting Trends on the date of Poll Special Report covering any untoward incidents or any special measures taken in discharge of assigned
Reporting, Monitoring and Supervision Senior Officers deployed to Block offices District Control Room and Nodal Officer-Special Sectors Special Observer
The Results No complaint received on wrongful deletion of names during revision process EPIC coverage increased from 76.81% to 90.19% No victim of violence complained that he was not allowed to vote because of lack of identity proof Attempts made to conduct election campaign on divisive agenda were strictly brought under control. Action taken against two candidates for Parliamentary Election had salutary effect. Because of the confidence building measures, polling percentage /voter turnout in district was 65.75%, which was more than Orissa State average of 63.90% (Phase-I of Elections) and National average of 58.43%.
The Results Participation of electors from the minority groups mirrored overall higher voter turnout in the district Moreover, not even a single complaint of fear and intimidation was received from any voter in the district. Voter turn out from relief camps was 84% as compared to 65.75% for the district. Not even a single case of fear and intimidation of voters, violence or any other criminal activity was
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