Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 23 March 2024
The Chief Electoral Officer, Mr. B.S. Jaglan, IAS, paid a visit to the ‘Election Permission Cell’ and the Braille EPIC preparation Cell situated in the office premises of the Returning Officer, A & N Islands Parliamentary Constituency on March 22, 2024. During his visit, Mr. Jaglan interacted with the staff to understand the procedures involved in granting permissions and preparing Braille EPICs for visually impaired electors.
With the announcement of the General Election to Lok Sabha – 2024, the Model Code of Conduct is now in effect. To streamline the process of granting permissions to political parties and candidates for various election-related activities such as public meetings, rallies, processions, and the use of loudspeakers and vehicles for campaigning, a single-window ‘Election Permission Cell’ has been established in the District Office. This initiative aims to provide convenience to candidates and political parties during the election period.
In line with the Election Commission of India’s directive to enhance accessibility in the electoral process, it has been mandated that Braille EPICs (Elector’s Photo Identity Cards) shall be issued to all visually impaired electors. To facilitate the issuance of Braille EPICs, a Braille Script Centre has been set up within the premises of the District Office. Here, Braille Script EPICs will be prepared for visually impaired electors at no cost, ensuring they possess the same EPIC number already issued to them. This initiative aims to enable visually impaired electors to exercise their right to vote independently in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
During his visit, Mr. Jaglan commended the arrangements made by the Returning Officer (ANIPC)/District Election Officer (SA), Mr. Arjun Sharma, IAS, and his team. These efforts underscore the commitment to ensuring a fair and inclusive electoral process in the A & N Islands Parliamentary Constituency.