Difficult topography and remoteness of the Darjeeling and Kalimpong Hills could pose a challenge to the newly launched Citizen Vigil App (CVA).

wepen, 6 March 2019, Darjeeling: Difficult topography and remoteness of the Darjeeling and Kalimpong Hills  could pose a challenge to the newly launched Citizen Vigil App (CVA).

A beta version of the app had been used in the Telangana elections. The app allows a citizen to report against violation of Model Code of Conduct including defacing of Government buildings, distribution of cash or liquor to voters.

In such a case the complainant has to upload a video clip (live) through the App. “The District Centre will receive the video and a team will be sent to verify the complaint. The matter has to be disposed within an hour,” stated Joyoshi Das Gupta, District Magistrate and District Election Officer.

To visit, scrutinize and resolve an issue within an hour in this remote terrain will definitely be a challenging task. Areas around the highest polling station of the State, Srikhola (around 11000 ft) and farthest polling stations in the State – Todey Tangta in the Kalimpong district.

For this a team will have to be kept on standby in each Gram Panchayat. The vigil will be in place from the declaration of election to the polls.

With around 1400 polling stations in the district, manpower required just for the CVA would be around 500 for Darjeeling. Huge logistical support is including vehicles will also be required. The persons involved with the CVA cannot be used for poll duty as they will have to constantly monitor and scrutinize complaints.

Even social media will be under the scanner of the Election Commission during the forthcoming General Election along with print and electronic media.

“A Monitoring and Certification Committee has been constituted at the district level. All campaign material and advertisement for print, electronic and social media will have to obtain a certification before being printed or broadcast,” stated the  District Magistrate.

Any Candidate or Party will have to submit material which they intend to publish or broadcast, 3 days before. For individuals it will be 7 days.

The advertisement or campaign material for print will be checked and certified within 48 hours. For electronic it will be on the same day.

“This is to ensure that the model code of conduct is not violated,” added the DEO.

Link to download the app CVA (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=in.nic.eci.cvigil&hl=en_IN)

(Source & Courtesy: http://www.wepen.in/darjeeling-difficult-topography-challenge-to-cvigil-app/)