M F AHMAD
Daltonganj, May 20: The death of a polling officer in Daltonganj has caused a matter of concern for the administration. The deceased, identified as Nand Lal Rajak, died near the strong room on Friday.
Sources close to the deceased’s family said Rajak had a bout of uneasiness and restlessness on Thursday when he was on duty as polling officer for the second phase of panchayat election.
He had informed his colleagues about his health but they did not take it seriously. Sources added that if his colleagues would have informed the BDO then the incident could have been prevented.
Rajak,53, died at the polling booth and the sources added that he could have been easily rushed to the hospital and instead of him the administration could have kept a reserved person.
In another incident, many voters from Kokro protested against the relocation of their Kokro booth at Akwaniya booth.
Sources said this incident could have embarrassed the Palamu administration much but after the prompt intervention by the SP Palamu Chandan Kumar Sinha, the abstention to voting changed into happy voting.
District election officer cum DC Shashi Ranjan was asked point wise on these two issues today by lagatar24.com.
On the death of polling officer Rajak DC Shashi Ranjan said they are too saddened by his passing away. They stand with the family of the deceased in this great hour of grief. They will provide the family his entire dues and ex gratia assistance that come in the event of death while performing poll duty etc. without any delay or hassle.
The District election officer cum DC said they have directed polling officials, security personnel and all others related to the poll works to take any health complaint of anyone on duty in all seriousness and to pass it on to the senior officials for medical assistance.
Shashi Ranjan said it is their clear instruction to all not to ignore, overlook or suppress any health discomfort of any one on duty as they have enough of reserve stock of personnel and officials ready to substitute or replace.
The DC added they are going to review relocation of booths as well, as in the third phase 37 booths were relocated but they will confirm it.
This step to review relocation of booths has arisen because of the Kokro booth incident where the voters were adamant about not to vote.
The DC hinted at the possibility of more clusters for the third and fourth phase of the panchayat elections just to minimise the distance between the cluster and the booth.
When asked that management of the clusters in the first phase and second phase was shabby as there was a deficiency of drinking water, cleanliness, food, rest place, toilet, bath room etc to which Shashi Ranjan replied that he was told of the deficiencies and they would be overcoming by all means in the remaining third and fourth phase of the panchayat elections.
He said they would do all to make one night stay of their polling parties and security forces at the clusters with as much comfort as possible.
