Bihar as model, EC orders 7.5 crore gloves for West Bengal polls

KOLKATA: The Election Commission is pulling out all the stops to ensure safe assembly polls in Bengal amid the pandemic. It has requisitioned 7.5 crore use-and-throw gloves in addition to hand sanitizers, soaps, phenol and thermal guns while state chief electoral officer (CEO) Ariz Aftab has issued guidelines to district magistrates.
“Elections were held in Bihar when the Covid situation was acute.The infection rate may have dropped since then, but the EC will not leave room for complacency. The Bihar safety model will be followed in Bengal. Guidelines have accordingly been issued to departments concerned and local administrations,” a senior official at the CEO’s office said.
Sources said voters would have to wear gloves before pressing an EVM button. These use-and-throw gloves will later be disposed of by polling staff. “The CEO has held a meeting with officials of the MSME that has been asked to provide 7.5 crore gloves, apart from sanitizers, soaps and phenol. All booths will be sanitized, preferably a day before polling. Covid protocol will be strictly maintained,” the official added.
Wearing a mask is also mandatory for voters and polling personnel. Asha workers or paramedical staff will measure the temperature of each and every voter, and ensure they sanitize hands. “If body temperature of a voter is above the reading set by the Union health ministry, he/she will be given a token and asked to come back during the last hour of polling,” the official said.
A help desk will distribute tokens among voters to avoid long queues while polling staff will mark circles for 15-20 people to ensure a physical distance of 6ft. Every booth shall have three queues — one each for men, women and disabled voters/senior citizens.
“Apart from postal ballot facility for persons with disabilities, people who are above 80 and those quarantined, Covid-19 patients who are quarantined will be allowed to cast their votes during the last hour of polling at their respective polling stations under the supervision of health authorities. Sector magistrates will coordinate the process at their respective polling stations,” the official said.