As Bharat gears up for the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken proactive measures to address concerns regarding the impact of heat waves and humidity on voters and election operations.
Recently in a meeting with agencies, the ECI constituted a task force comprising officials from the ECI, India Meteorological Department (IMD), National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to monitor and review the weather situation before each polling phase.
The task force will assess the impact of heat waves and humidity five days before each polling phase and recommend mitigatory measures if necessary. The move comes amidst reports of above-normal temperatures and heat waves in certain parts of the nation.
The ECI, chaired by Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar along with ECs Gyanesh Kumar and Sukhbir Singh Sandhu, discussed measures to ensure the comfort and well-being of voters, polling personnel, security forces, candidates, and political party leaders during the election period.
During the meeting, the Director General of IMD reassured the ECI that there were no major concerns regarding heat waves for Phase 2 of the Lok Sabha elections scheduled for April 26.
The weather forecast for the 13 states and Union Territories going for polls in Phase 2 is deemed normal. However, the ECI remains vigilant and will continue to monitor weather reports closely to mitigate any risks posed by hot weather conditions.
Additionally, constituting the task force, the ECI directed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to issue necessary instructions to health authorities in states to prepare for and extend assistance in case of heatwave conditions affecting election operations.
The Commission emphasized the importance of adequate arrangements at polling stations, including providing shade, drinking water, fans, and other essential facilities, as per its existing advisory dated March 16, 2024.
Moreover, Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) activities will be conducted to educate the public on precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of heat waves in polling station areas.
The Commission had already issued an advisory on April 16 to all Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) regarding the prevention of heatwave impacts, along with standing instructions for assured minimum facilities at polling stations.
Both the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the NDMA have issued advisory and guidelines on mitigating the risk of heat wave-related issues earlier. The Ministry has directed all states to prepare a state action plan as part of their public health advisory.
With these proactive measures in place, the ECI aims to ensure a smooth and safe electoral process for all stakeholders amidst challenging weather situations.
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