Election Management Plan of Gadchiroli

Presented by

Atul Patne
Collector, Gadchiroli

Neighbouring

districts are
naxal affected.

Gadchiroli District at a glance

Dense forest 78% Tribal district- mainly includes Gond, Pardhan, Madia, Rajgond tribes.
Sr. No. Item Nos.

1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Total Taluka
Total Villages Inhabited Villages Population Geographical Area Forest Area Average Rainfall Literacy Total Voters Epic Coverage

12
1679 1513 9.70 (lakh) (2001) 14,92,000 ha. 11,59,400 ha. 1574 mm. 60% 6.19 Lakh 87%

NAXALISM - A GROWING MENACE

Naxalism is an extremism of left wing ideology which aims at capturing State power through the barrel of the gun

The Party should control the gun and gun should not control the party - Mao Tse Tung

Naxal Violence during General Loksabha

Election 2009
During implementation of ASTHA OPERATION naxalites attacked on the police party named as C-60 at Mungner forest in Dhanora Tahsil, 3

brave

policemen lost their lives.

Bombs were placed on the road.

On the poll day

4 attacks on polling parties before going to the polling booths. 2 attacks on polling parties after poll .

Naxal Violence during Election 2009

Threatened people to cutting

the finger and slitting the

throat. Killed 16 policemen in

Hattigota incidence. Just five days before the Vidhansabha election, killed 17 2009 policemen in Laheri incidence on 13th October

Strategic Measures taken

Reducing the polling time from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m as opposed to mandated 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Special Randomization of the polling staff viz.,

No Inter Assembly seat randomization

Age wise randomization etc Partial randomization for D+1 and D+2 dispatch

Innovative Dispatch Management plan

Route reorganization based on distance (under and above 25 kms) as Inner Core and Outer Core limits Route wise Time Slot dispatch schedule Drop Last party first plan

Strategic Measures Taken

Strategic planning like additional EVMs on sensitive booths, involvement of NGOs, youth, institutions like Gotul, Nehru Yuva Kendra and perfect training to Staff through Mock Poll Booth exercise etc. Extensive use of IEC for outreach and electoral literacy programs for the voters in the

backdrop of threat to voters from Naxalites that if they cast vote, their fingers will be
chopped off. Thorough planning to ensure Poll Staff Welfare and Security and Confidence Building Measures.

Use of IT to implement a highly innovative communication plan filling in the gaps in

the communication infrastructure of the district etc. SMS Counting Updates, IVRS based Poll helpline in local dialect Madia and Gondi, live transmission of voting and counting, Use of VHF based GPS etc

Appreciation Letter received from the then Chief Secy of Maharashtra for conducting successfully the Loksabha Elections 2009 in Gadchiroli

The commendation letter from the Chief Election Commissioner of India to Shri Atul Patne, Collector Gadchiroli, on successful conduct of Maharashtras Assembly Election, 2009, in the constituency of Gadchiroli

Letter from the Election Commission of India for requisitioning the services of Shri Atul Patne, the Collector Gadchiroli, to guide the Chief Electoral Officer of the Bihar in conducting their Assembly elections which were held in the month of November 2010

The acknowledgement received at the highest level in the country for the innovative Election Management Plan in Gadchiroli

Election Management Plan of Gadchiroli

Major Concerns
Fear of the voters due to naxal threat Demoralization in Security Forces due to the Laheri incident (08.10.2009) Lack of moralization and widespread fear in the poll officials in the backdrop of violent incident of past polls. Possibility of any untoward incident anytime.

Major Concerns
Lack of communication facilities in 144 polling
booths located in the interiors. No established logistics plan for LWE affected areas Age of the staff Most of the staff is more than 50 years old.

Inadequate staff from central government.

Election Management Plan

Security Plan/ Logistics Plan

Voters Education cum confidence building Plan

Employees Welfare cum Morale Boosting Plan

Communication Plan

Security Plan/ Logistics Plan

Naxal Violence during Election

Election Attacks made on police
12 13 9 13
( 3 policemen lost their lives)

Arson

Murder

Other violent activities

3 3 1 10 17

Total

Lok Sabha-04 Vidhan Sabha Election-04 Z.P. Election -07 Lok Sabha - 09 Total

7 1 2 23 33

1 2 6 9 18

23 19 18 55 115

47

Security Measures
Reducing the polling time from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. as opposed to mandated 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

-Polling parties reached back

to the base camp during the
day light. No loss of life

Deployment of Security Force

38 companies of security

forces 12 companies of CRPF 21 companies of SRP 5 companies of Indian Reserve Battalion

Inspired confidence among

voters and the poll officials

Permanent base camps Temp. base camps No. of Base camps - 65

No. of booths No. of CPMF Coy. deployed in base camps(35 COY=24

LOCN) CPMF + District Strength + SRPF to form the team for booth

bandobast.
Hypersensitive booths bandobast to vary between 20-30 - If 20, 2 sections of CPMF = 16+4 - If 30, 3 sections of CPMF = 24+6 Sensitive booths 12-20 - One Section of CPMF i.e. 8+4 - Two Section of CPMF i.e. 16+4 Normal booths 1+1
- Vehicular Patrolling parties 1+7 - Parties less than 6 bandobast w/o weapon.

Use of helicopters to lift the vulnerable polling parties

Total three helicopters were
deployed in Gadchiroli district1) Chetak 2) MI-17 3) Pawan Hans 96 polling stations were situated in inaccessible area in

deep forest.
136 presiding officers with the EVM were brought back by the helicopters

Dispatch Management Plan for Security

Route reorganization
core - outer core and inner core.
Core & outer core booths are

within & above 30 km radius

respectively

480

polling

parties

were

dispatched on base camp.

Dispatch of outer core booths

first.

Dispatch Management Plan for

Security
Last Party- First Drop Plan - To increase security 2 3 times. Time slot and date of distribution of material was communicated to the concern parties well in advance.

Tables were arranged for distribution of material according

to route wise. Parties reached in time and got time to settle down on the booth. Sorties by chopper.

Micro observers with polling parties.

Diagram of distribution of material

Route 1 Route 2
EVM Other Voter Material list

Route 3
EVM Other Voter Material list

Route 4
EVM Other Voter Material list

Route 5
EVM Other Voter Material list

Route 6
EVM Other Voter Material list

8.00 to 9.30

EVM Other Voter Material list

9.45 to 11.00

Route 7

Route 8

Route 9

Route 10

Route 11

Route 12

11.00 to 01.00

Route 13

Route 14

Route 15

Route 16

Route 17

Route 18

ACTION PLAN FOR POLLING BANDOBAST

It is a step-by-step process CPMF have been deployed in *permanent base camps(35 COY=24 LOCN) **Polling party would move sector wise to permanent base camps by Vehicle from RO CENTER (After Road Opening) (D -2) (45) Some of the Bandobast parties + Polling parties move to (temporary) base camps By the foot from the permanent ones (20) (D -1) Parties move to polling booths from base camps (Permanent & Temp.) and conduct elections (D Day) Road Opening and Parties move for Temp. Base camp (D/D+1) Movement of Parties from Base Camps to respective counting centers. (D+2)
* The permanent base camps are either PS/SPS/AOP **Polling party means 4 persons deployed for conducting electoral process.

Backup Security Measures

Availability of blood donors list.
Team of 45 specialist doctors. Ambulances with paramedical staff at all PHCs To meet any eventuality, the administration made necessary arrangements, kept ready cylinders, life blood of all groups, oxygen

saving drugs.

Backup Security Measures

Booth shifting to conduct the peaceful election, location of 52 polling booth shifted.

On 167 Polling stations additional EVMs were

supplied. It helps to tackle the cases of any

failure in operation of EVMs.

CC TV on counting room

Voters Education Plan

Voters Awareness and Youth Involvement

Astha operation
The officials from Police department visited village and read the names of the

voter list and name of

polling station. Explained about various welfare schemes.

Lokshahi Saksharta (literacy) programme

To create awareness & confidence building

among the voters

Participation of Nehru Yuva Kendra, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, and other NGOs. Explained about various welfare schemes

introduced by the Govt., the values of democracy. EVMs were kept in the weekly Bazar days and demonstration were shown to voters about voting through EVM

Voters Awareness and youth Involvement

Use of Gotuls to (youth dormitories) encourage the voters to participate in election process
District administration arranged
the awareness programme in the Gotuls with the help of tribal youths.

It gave good results.

e.g. Marda, youths Rajoli, Savela from came

forward to escort polling parties during elections.

Participation of Tribal Institutions

Distribution of 50 Mobile Phones, T.V. with DTH, CD players to the very effective existing social tribal institutes like Gotul, Kore. It helps to communicate the

information regarding polling. It helps to build up relationship between administration. the good voters &

Employees Welfare Plan

Election Employees Welfare

Formation of Committees
Following committees were formed at district/sub/ taluka places for conduct of

smooth & peaceful election.

Sr.No.
1
2 3 4 5

Name of Committee
Health Committee
Food Committee Niwas Committee Transport Committee Committee for providing information in district level District level disaster Management committee

Members of the Committee

1) Civil Surgeon , 2) District Health Officer, ZP, 3) RMO, Gadchiroli , 4) Medical Officer, PHC,
1) Edu. Officer,ZP 2) Dy. CEO,(Women & Child Welfare) ZP 3) DSO 4) BDO. 1) Ex. Engg. B&C 2) ARO 3) Civil Surgeon 4) RDC 5) Asstt. Engg., 6) Edu. Officer, 7) C.O.(Nagarpalika) 1) ARTO, 1) DIO, 2) Dept. Manager MSRTC, 2) RDC , 3) N.T. Election, 3) Tahsildar

1) RDC ,2) Ex. Engg. B&C, 3) Civil Surgeon, 4) ARO

Election Employees Welfare

Exemption in randomization from inter assembly.

Partial randomization as per dispatch plan.

Randomization on basis of age.

Staff below 45 years age was deployed on the

highly sensitive, remote polling stations. It helps

the polling parties and the protection parties to

travel though deep forest to the polling booths safely.

Views of polling staff

Election Employees Welfare

Effective training of EVM through mock polling booth.

Help line for staff on telephone no. 106 Supply of packets of dry food. e.g. tea bags, snacks. Supply of food through Anganwadi sevikas/women of self help group.

Election Employees Welfare

Facility of entertainment was provided on the base camp for the stress management. e.g. TV, carom board, playing cards. Facility of Cloak room at dispatch center was provided. Drinking water, Mattresses, coolers , generators these facilities was provided.

Supply of medical kit

Supply of medical kits to 925 polling powder and 20 medicines. Sr. No. Name of the Medicine Quantity Remarks (useful for ) parties. It contains quick blood clot

1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Tab. Paracetmol
Tab. Gelucil Tab. Cetrizine Tab. Sorbitrate Tab. Furaxone Tab. Dyclomine Bandage roll with cotton ORS Pocket Antiseptic powder

20 tab
20 tab 20 tab 20 tab 20 tab 20 tab 1 pkt. 10 pkt. 1 bot.

Fever, Body pain

Acidity etc. Etching , Alergy Heart disease Dysentry Stomach pain To cover the wound For Dehydration For treatment of wound

Election Employees Welfare

A team of doctors were also kept ready on these

places.
A fire brigade and sufficient security force was

also kept ready on these places.

Facility of food, health check up was kept ready

at receiving center
Insurance cover of Rs. 10 lakh was provided to

each employee.

Communication
Plan

Use of IT
Call center Website IVRS SMS

Live counting updates on LCD projector

GPS GIS

Use of IT
Satellite phone
Live training Use of mobile and DTH TV

COMMUNICATION DEAD ZONE

MAP SHOWING

DEAD ZONE

Installation of 100 sets of VHF-

GPS
These were installed on -53 zonal officers vehicles -16 on district administrations vehicles -17 on Ambulances and -13 with the polling parties -On Anti landmine vehicles

-On Choppers.

Call Center
Facility on phone no. 105 Information Telugu. Officials knowing above languages were given job to provide information to the voters. was given in local

language that i.e. Madia, Gondi and

Literature in dialect.
Pamphlets in Madia, Gondi and Telugu languages were distributed.

IVRS facility with multi language

support
1. Information about Sr. No., part No. of electoral roll and name of polling station in local languages. 2. Alternate document required for voting when epic is not

available.
3. Lodging complaints for violation of model code of conduct.

IVRS Facility
Worked as follows : After connecting, for select language please dial
1 for Marathi 2 for Hindi 3 for English

4 for Gondi
5 for Madia

Please dial constituency number

1 for Aheri
2 for Wadsa 3 for Gadchiroli

IVRS Facility
After dialing constituency number
1 for booth information 2 for information of epic card

3 for election related complaints

4 for operator System replied the complete address of polling booth to the voter by Telephonic system.

Booth information on Mobile

Booth Information through Mobile SMS

For ex : Type : Epic<space>Gad<space>Epic No or Voter Name

Relay of Figures of Counting of

votes
Voter is center in democratic system.

Arrangement for live election counting updates shown on LCD projector screen at Tahasil level.

Counting Updates through Mobile SMS

After One hour, the result of 1st three candidates was made available on SMS.

Blood Donor Information System

For various blood groups Gad Apositive for A+ve Blood Gad Anegative for A-ve Blood Gad ABpositive for AB+ Blood Gad ABnegative for AB- Blood Gad Bpositive for B+ve Blood Gad Bnegative for B-ve Blood Gad Opositive for O+ve Blood

Gad Onegative for O-ve Blood

Expression of Public Confidence

Overcoming all the obstacles, large no. of voters exercised their franchise

without fear.
The percentage of the voting gone up to

67%, it shows beyond doubt that

the public had full confidence in the democracy.

Expression of Public Confidence

District Administration successfully conducted the elections in such grampanchayats where people did not came forward for election procedures since last 10 years. Name of Grampanchyat

(1) Jappi (2) Kohaka (s) (3) Paraynar

(4) Kamlapur (5) Manerajaram (6) Nelgunda

(7) Sirkonda (8) Katlwada (9) Aswalhudki

Analysis for the purpose of evaluation

Simplification of the Procedure SoP Type nature,
the EMP as pioneered in Gadchiroli has reduced most of the confusion involved while conducting elections in a Naxal infested area like Gadchiroli.

e-Governance-

ICT has been an integral part of the Communication Plan element of the overall Election Management Plan.
We have made use of technologies like VSAT based video conferencing, GPS tracking of all the Election vehicles, Call centre etc.

Reduction in unproductive expenditure

with the prior planning to the last possible detail, a lot of wastage of time and money was averted.
Especially logistics plan helped avoid lot of chaos and wastage of election officials time.

Analysis for the purpose of evaluation

Making the administration citizen centric
the motto of the EMP is ensure that the poor and disadvantage can exercise their democratic right to vote
education to the voters regarding the election process forms an integral factor in the success of the plan. The call centre for the voters was very helpful in resolving the disputes regarding the voters registration in the districts voters list.

Performance on Objective Parameters

Replicable
The EMP has proven to be very robust and replicable as is obvious from its application in the Jharkhand elections Invitation of the Election Commission of India to the District Collector to give training in conducting elections in Bihar The State Chief Election Officer has shown interest in replicating this plan in other districts of the state as well and especially in the naxal affected district of Chandrapur and Gondia.

Easily Implementable

Mainly centered on using the available resources in the most efficient manner. Touches every aspect of the election exercise. The innovation made using the ICT are fairly simple ones to replicate and given the expertise of Gadchiroli in conducting elections, the required training is always at hand in the form of experienced elections officials from the district.

Benefits which are measured quantitatively

the voting percentage in Gadchiroli turned out to be 67% in the Assembly elections of 2009, which is way better than achieved in the metro cities like Mumbai, Pune, Thane and Nagpur. There was least number of incidents of naxal disruptions during the election.
Not even a single election official was hurt due naxal violence or otherwise.

Performance on Objective Parameters

Implementable by all the levels/other departments
several components which are useful for other departments as well
The VHF GPS first used during the elections provided us a model to develop the efficient tracking system for the ambulance and the PDS trucks. the video conferencing facilities developed during the election have been successfully integrated into the distance education model implemented in the Project Dhanakur

Direct benefit to the public

The elections in Gadchiroli resulted in strengthening the democratic system in Gadchiroli and reestablished peoples faith in the administration. The confidence generated in one election carried on to the successful completion of other elections and in the just conducted Vidhan Parishad elections in November 2010, the polling percentage went up as high 87%

Successful implementation

The confidence generated in one election carried on to the successful completion of other elections and in the just conducted Vidhan Parishad elections in November 2010, the polling percentage went up as high 87%

Shri Atul Patne, Collector Gadchiroli, receiving the award and commendation certificate at the hands of the President of India