Akshaya to enable webcasting in 140 booths

Kochi: To prevent any untoward incidents in Ernakulam district, the Election Commission (EC) has taken precautionary measures at 226 sensitive polling stations and 29 critical polling booths.
Among these, Akshaya, the government utility agency, will enable online webcasting in 117 sensitive and 24 critical booths. Micro-observers will be appointed in the rest of the booths.
While sensitive polling booths belong to the category in which chances of clashes or mishaps are high, critical booths are red alert booths which are either highly prone to clashes or have a history of troubles.
"Three Akshaya personnel will be in charge of webcasting in each booth. The complete process will be monitored centrally through a temporary control room to be set up at the collectorate. A software developed by Keltron will be used for the purpose," said Ajisha N M, district project manager and in-charge of online webcasting, Akshaya.
Webcasting involves a simple technical process using a laptop and webcam for ensuring transparency in polling. All activities of voters inside the booth will be captured. The footage will be kept for the record.
Around 190 people underwent training for the purpose at the collectorate. Public can also watch the live webcast through the website of the chief electoral officer. "The micro-observers are central government officials. They attended a training class held at the collectorate on Friday. Maximum security will be provided for polling," said S Rajeev, deputy collector (election).
Perumbavoor, which is relatively calm, does not have a past history of clashes or related trouble during elections. But this time, due to protests following the murder of a law student, the EC has decided to intensify vigil at all polling booths in the area.
"Twenty-two polling stations in Perumbavoor constituency will have either live webcasting or micro-observers. However, more security personnel will also be deployed in some of the polling stations in the area, if the situation so demands," said an EC official.