NERP drive to complete before Aug 31

Dimapur, June 16: The Election Commission of India has recently launched the National Electoral Roll Purification (NERP) program March 1 with the main objective to improve the health of the Electoral Rolls (ER), rationalizing the Polling Stations (PSs) boundaries and locations and providing Basic Minimum Facilities (BMFs). The NERP-2016 will also include enrolment of all eligible citizens and removal of repeated and multiple entries; entries of dead, shifted & absent voters, correction of errors in EPIC and removal of other data errors. During this drive, repeat images will also be corrected, missing photographs will be collected; poor quality of images will be replaced by good quality photographs. This intensive drive is to be completed on or before 31st August, 2016 Also the Election Commission has directed the election department to identify the Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) for registering their names in electoral roll with the help of social welfare department and the NGOs working for the welfare of persons with disabilities so that the department shall provide various facilities on the day of poll in the polling station.In this regard, a DIPR report said, a meeting will be convened on June 17 in the office chamber of the Chief Electoral Officer, Nagaland at 2.30 pm to discuss on issues in order to achieve the goals with the representatives of various organizations. All the members have been requested to cooperate and attend the meeting and give input positively in ensuring the achievement of the goals. This should be treated as official communication. Meanwhile, CEO Sanjay Kumar, IAS visited Zunheboto today and held a meeting with the district administration, District HODs, Supervisors, BLOs, GBs and NGOs at VDB Hall, Zunheboto. Addressing the officials, Sanjay Kumar spoke on problems of bogus voters, double registration, enrolment of underage and outsiders and said Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated many programs like NREPA and NERP for purification and clean electoral roll for which he urged for cooperation from every grassroot level officials. CEO also underscore the need of inter departmental cooperation to improve facilities at the polling stations. Joint CEO, Moa Aier said that the purpose of visiting the district was to get first hand information on electioneering process from the stakeholders. He also spoke on relevant Articles and Sections in Indian Constitution which relates to duties and responsibilities of both officials and the citizens. Moa also said, mass declaration of vote to a particular candidate during election by village council as seen in print media is illegal and will be prosecuted as per the constitutional law in future. Dy. CEO, Khekugha mentioned that sincerity on the part of Supervisors and BLOs will yield in better electoral reforms and added that corruption must be eliminated from grassroots level for which village councils, BLOs and voters must ensure free and fair elections. Asst. CEO, Awa Lorin spoke on the importance of Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) which are needed not only for voting during election but for various purposes and said accurate information on EPIC is a must in future to seek admission in Colleges, Universities and competitive exams. Earlier, AEO, Chisho K. Swu delivered the welcome address and ADC Zunheboto, Nunsangmenla Imchen gave a presentation.