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The Election Commission of India (ECI) has issued a comprehensive advisory to all chief electoral officers across states and union territories, focusing on mitigating the impact of heatwaves during the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The advisory, which references predictions from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) about the likelihood of higher-than-average temperatures and extended heatwave periods from March to June 2024, includes a set of guidelines from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) aimed at reducing heatwave effects.
Election commission issues heatwave advisory
The commission has stated in the letter that "it is directing the CEOs/DEOs to conduct a complete gap analysis of AMF at each polling station, and to collaborate with state authorities to permanently install these AMFs at the polling stations. Furthermore, the commission is providing facilities for voters to cast their votes with convenience. The AMF mandates the Sector Officers to visit polling stations/locations to assess their value."
Central to the ECI’s directive is the implementation of Assured Minimum Facilities (AMF) at polling stations. The commission has instructed officers to conduct thorough assessments of AMFs to ensure that all polling locations are equipped with the necessary amenities to facilitate a smooth voting process. This includes ensuring that polling stations are accessible on the ground floor for older people and disabled voters, complete with permanent ramps adhering to a maximum gradient of 1:12, as mandated by the Supreme Court.
The ECI also recommended making provisions for a permanent arrangement of tap facilities for drinking water. It further suggested that the voting stations must equip themselves with enough 'environmentally-friendly' disposable glasses. Ensure proper furniture for polling agents, and older people.
The ECI, discussing the furniture, directed that voting booths must provide proper tables, chairs, and benches for polling parties, polling agents, as well as for disabled, pregnant, or older people. The Commission further directed CEOs to ensure proper lighting arrangements inside the polling booths.
The ECI also mandated that polling stations must provide separate toilets in sufficient numbers for both male and female voters. The order stated that they must deploy one employee for the maintenance of hygiene in the toilets throughout the day. The Commission directed that proper signage should be put up near and at the polling stations to guide the voters towards various facilities, such as EVMs, toilets, drinking water, etc.
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