DCRC Arrangements: Some Points To Be Taken Care Of

            Dispersal-Cum-Reception Centre

Knowing very well that you are all immersed in sundry preparations for the ensuing polls, I thought I should just remind you about various arrangements to be made at the DCRC on 22^nd April, 2011. Following are the issues which should engage your attention while making various arrangements for the DCRC:

• Coordination with/between police and civil sector officers.
• Sector Officers to report at DCRC in time to ensure that polling parties of their respective sectors are formed, materials checked and police tagging done.
• Police Sector vehicles not to be tagged with a particular civil sector or route. Police sector vehicles to be ready at the Vehicle Tagging Point. They shall accompany any sector/route wherefor entire polling party is ready to move.
• The Lathi Constables are to be dropped at respective booths during this escorting.
• Training of DCRC personnel to be properly done.
• ‘MAY I HELP YOU’ Counter to be manned by efficient and well-trained personnel having details about DCRC arrangements.
• Training on Demand/Model Polling Station Counter to be put up.
• Public Address System at the DCRC to be properly arranged and an efficient person to be deputed for the purpose.
• Pandel and related structures to be properly erected with a view to presumed cyclonic weather/squalls. The agency (both for infrastructure and electricity) to be there all the time.
• Vehicular/traffic movement at DCRC and on important routes approaching the DCRC to be properly managed. Traffic to be suitably diverted with advance arrangements/planning to be made in this regard.
• Food/Tiffin packets distribution for the DCRC personnel to be so done as not to affect the smooth functioning of the DCRC.
• Payment party to report in time as and where applicable and in case of those personnel for whom the payments could not be made through the bank accounts.
• Extra care needs to be taken of the reserve polling personnel at DC. There should be a nodal officer to look after them. Basic amenities like tea/snacks should be arranged for the reserve polling personnel at the place earmarked for the reserve PP. They should be strictly warned against loitering outside their earmarked place.
• Issue of payment for the Reserve PP should be decided well in advance.
• Arrangements for dropping of the PP should also be sorted out in advance with the respective routes being notified in advance.
• Arrangements for basic amenities like toilet and potable water to be suitably made.
• Medical Team should be there with all the basic medicines.
• Arrangements for fire fighting/extinguishers/tenders should be there at the site.
• Proper lighting and rain/sun shed should also be arranged.
• Mingling Points should be clearly identified.
• Control Room at the DCRC should be adequately staffed.
• Internet connectivity, telephones and computers to be arranged at the DCRC.
• DCRC materials to be transported well in advance and counter to be ready well in time.
• The vehicle for transportation of DCRC/polling personnel should report in time so that DCRC personnel reach their in time for the counters to be opened right on the dot.
• Notwithstanding immense pressure of work, the DCRC personnel should be at the best of their behaviour.
• Food Counter against payment to be arranged for the polling personnel.
• Food/Tiffin Packets for police to be arranged by the police authorities. Things to be coordinated with the police in advance.
• Chart for polling party departure/arrival at DCRC to be properly maintained.
• There should be sufficient spare materials and batteries for digital/video cameras. Battery charging points should be there in sufficient numbers.
• Polling parties to be informed about the EVM transportation from DCRC to the counting venues in advance.
• Special care to be taken during RC for receipt of such materials as PRO Diary, PS05 and 17-C.
• Materials to be received at RC: Voter Turn Out Report, PRO Declaration, PRO Diary, Digital Camera and 4 items under statutory covers including Marked Copy, Register of Voters and Lister of Tendered Voters.
• There should be proper signage with a DCRC Layout Map.
• There should be proper coordination with Observers for Strong Room opening with advance preparations for the same.

The above are only illustrative and not exhaustive in nature. I just hope that you shall keep in mind some of the issues as detailed above.

With best wishes,

Dr. Saumitra Mohan, IAS.