Jammu Tawi, Sept 07: To promote the Green Election initiative of the Election Commission of India (ECI) during the forthcoming Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Elections, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Pandurang K Pole deliberated over a massive plantation drive across the UT during the Assembly Elections to foster environmental stewardship among the electorate, beside to compensate the impact on the environment due to waste generated during the election process.
The CEO exhorted upon the DEOs to set a target of planting more than 100 plants in the premises of Polling Station identified as Green Polling Station in each Assembly Constituency, whereas rest of the Polling Stations must plant 10-15 plants each in its premises across J&K UT.
The directions were also issued to ROs to identify alternate Polling Stations if sufficient plantation drive cannot be taken in the existing site and report to the concerned DEO by 15 September, 2024.
It was directed in the meeting that the J&K Forest Department will provide the plants free of cost and it will also supervise the overall plantation drive across all the 90 ACs in J&K UT. Moreover, the BAG (Booth-level Awareness Group) and other staff members can be involved to launch the plantation drive across the UT and the shortfall of plants will be managed by the concerned Chief Horticulture Officer.
He emphasized on the enhancing the SVEEP activities to educate and engage voters effectively and urged all stakeholders to maximize voter turnout through door- to-door campaigns by roping in the BAGs, BLOs, AWWs, Teachers, Youths and Students of Colleges and Schools under SVEEP initiative.
The CEO also emphasized on transparency measures for home voting for the elderly and Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
Rahul Sharma, Additional CEO; Nirupa Rai, Special Secretary; Akther Hussain Qazi, Nodal officer of SVEEP; Sapna Kotwal, Nodal Officer for Media; Namisha Abrol, IT Expert and others were present in the meeting.
