Haryana CEO takes first-of-its-kind initiative, State Voters to receive Wedding-Style Invitations for General Elections

Voting is to be held in the sixth phase in the state on May 25 and notification for the elections will be issued on April 29

The voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 25

Chandigarh,( DGIPR HARYANA<pnote2018@gmail.com>) April 25 – In a bid to transform the solemn act of voting into a celebratory affair, the Chief Electoral Officer of Haryana, Sh. Anurag Agarwal has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative ahead of the Lok Sabha General Elections – 2024. Departing from conventional outreach methods, this time the Commission has decided to send out wedding-style invitations to voters across the state, turning polling day into a joyous occasion akin to a festive nuptial ceremony. This unique approach aims not only to elevate civic participation but also to infuse a sense of enthusiasm and community spirit into the electoral process.

Divulging more details in this regard, Sh. Anurag Agarwal said that with the ambitious goal of achieving a remarkable 75 percent voter turnout, this pioneering initiative is set to redefine the way elections are perceived and experienced in Haryana. Voting is to be held in the sixth phase in the state on May 25 and notification for the elections will be issued on April 29. The voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 25, he shared.

Voters are taking an oath of Chunav ka Parv Desh ka Garv

Sh. Anurag Agarwal said that to inspire voters to vote, oaths are being administered in every district, and citizens are enthusiastically participating in oath-taking ceremonies. Voters are taking an oath of Chunav ka Parv Desh ka Garv, stating, “We, the citizens of India, having abiding faith in democracy, hereby pledge to uphold the democratic traditions of our country and the dignity of free, fair and peaceful elections, and to vote in every election fearlessly and without being influenced by considerations of religion, race, caste, community, language or any inducement”.

The Chief Electoral Officer said that the Commission has developed several mobile apps to empower voters digitally. Among these, the Know Your Candidate (KYC) and Voter Helpline apps are prominent. Through the KYC app, voters can obtain information about the candidates in their Lok Sabha constituency. They can even view any criminal background of the candidates, if any. Similarly, voters can download the Voter Helpline app to obtain information about their polling booths, he said.

Information about the queue at the polling center will be available through the Voter In Queue app

Sh. Anurag Agarwal said that to increase the voting percentage in urban areas, for the first time, the Voter In Queue mobile app has been developed for 30 assembly constituencies. Through this app, the voter will be connected with the BLO and the BLO will provide information to the voter about how many people are in line to vote at that time. Voters can come to vote according to their convenience as the crowd diminishes. He said that in previous elections, it was observed that sometimes voters, seeing the crowd at the polling center, would return without casting their vote, so this time the decision has been made to increase the voting percentage.

April 26 is the last day to register for voting

The Chief Electoral Officer said that the deadline for registration of new voters in the state is April 26, 2024, so if any eligible citizen has not yet obtained their voter card, they should get it immediately. He informed that so far, the number of registered voters in the state is 1,99,81,982. Among these, there are 1,06,04,276 male voters and 93,77,244 female voters. Additionally, there are 462 transgender voters registered.

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The Haryana Right To Service Commission has imposed a fine of Rs. 3,000 on the former branch manager of Punjab National Bank, Badli branch, Sanjeev Kishore Rohatgi, for not adhering to the prescribed service deadline.
Chandigarh (<pnote2018@gmail.com>, April 25 - The Haryana Right To Service Commission has imposed a fine of Rs. 3,000 on the former branch manager of Punjab National Bank, Badli branch, Sanjeev Kishore Rohatgi, for not adhering to the prescribed service deadline. This fine will have to be deposited in the state treasury, and the receipt of the deposited fine will be submitted to the Commission within 30 days of the order, otherwise recovery will be made according to the law for non-depositing the fine.

Sharing more information, a spokesperson for the Haryana Right To Service Commission stated that the Chief Commissioner of the Commission, Sh. T.C. Gupta has taken suo moto in this matter and conducted a hearing on April 10 for the resolution of this case. Dr. Jitendra Malik, Sub-Divisional Officer-cum-Dairy Officer, Animal Husbandry and Dairy, Jhajjar, Haryana, Amanpreet Bakshi, Branch Manager, PNB, Badli, Jhajjar, and Sanjeev Kishore Rohatgi, former Branch Manager (retd.), PNB, Badli, Jhajjar, Haryana, along with the applicant Ms. Shakuntala were present during this hearing.

During the hearing, Sanjeev Kishore Rohatgi had said that after obtaining 'principle' approval for the loan on April 21, 2022, the purchase was also made on April 24, 2022, and when the customer came for distribution, it was found that the applicant's CIBIL score was not satisfactory, so the payment was not made. This fact was also reiterated by the current branch manager Amanpreet. He further said that the reason for non-distribution can only be attributed to Sanjeev Kishore Rohatgi. When bank officials were asked why they did not check the CIBIL score before approving the loan, they said that they approve loans to promote government schemes and these things are checked only when cases arise.

The Commission has carefully considered all the facts and circumstances of this case. When a case is sponsored to the bank, it is the bank's duty to conduct preliminary investigations before granting 'principle' approval. This preliminary investigation includes whether the customer is a defaulter, whether the customer's CIBIL score is satisfactory, and whether the customer complies with the bank's guidelines and other things as per the bank's directions.

The Commission said that it is very unfortunate that in the name of promoting government schemes and assisting economically weaker sections of society, the above-mentioned bank officials first forced the complainant to purchase cattle, because of which the complainant had spent a lot of money to arrange the cattle. After purchasing cattle the bank refused to disburse the loan citing that the complaint’s CIBIL score was not satisfactory.

The Commission said that if the bank had carefully seen the CIBIL score of the complainant in the initial phase before granting 'principle' approval, then the poor applicant could have been saved from the trouble and wastage of time and money. Therefore, finding Sanjeev Kishore Rohatgi guilty of not delivering the prescribed service on time, the Commission has imposed a fine of Rs. 3,000.

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EPIC cards and photo voter slips will be issued in Braille script for the convenience of visually impaired voters

Chandigarh, April 25 - Haryana Chief Electoral Officer, Sh. Anurag Agarwal said that for the convenience of visually impaired voters in the state, EPIC cards and photo voter slips will be printed in Braille script, and facilities such as Braille ballot papers and slips on EVMs will also be available. In addition to this, various facilities are being provided to PwD voters, including arrangements for wheelchairs, ramps at polling stations, and transportation.

He said that arrangements will be made to bring PwD voters to the polling station. Wheelchairs will also be made available to those voters who are unable to walk. Arrangements for ramps will be made at every polling station. Additionally, arrangements for volunteers from NGOs, NSS, and Red Cross will also be made for their assistance, shared Sh. Anurag Agarwal.

The Chief Electoral Officer said that visually impaired voters and PwD voters who are unable to cast their vote by pressing the machine button can bring a helper with them to cast their vote. The age of the helper should be 18 years or older. He said that PwD voters who are capable of casting their vote by pressing the EVM button can bring a helper along with them to the voting booth, but the helper cannot enter the voting booth.

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Preparations for Summer Heat Wave: Haryana Chief Secretary Directs Protective Measures for Vulnerable Groups

Chandigarh, April 25 - The Haryana Chief Secretary, Sh. T.V.S.N. Prasad has directed all concerned departments to formulate schemes to make adequate arrangements for the women working at construction sites and brick kilns, especially their small children, labourers, and those working under MNREGA, in view of the upcoming heat wave.

The arrangements should be made while focusing on ensuring maximum relief for these vulnerable sections of society, said Sh. Prasad while chairing a comprehensive review meeting held here today with the Additional Chief Secretaries and Principal Secretaries from all relevant departments, to discuss essential preparations for the impending heat wave. Notably, during the session, a representative from the Meteorological Department highlighted the likelihood of above-average temperatures in Haryana from May to June.

The Chief Secretary directed the Labor Department to formulate a plan specifically addressing the needs of labourers who work outdoors for extended periods. The plan should ensure maximum relief for these labourers, with a specific emphasis on including arrangements for their children.

The Chief Secretary assured the department that budgetary constraints won't hinder relief efforts. Funds from the Haryana Workers Welfare Board are readily available. The plan should include establishing dharamshalas, community centers, and crèches (childcare centers) to provide these labourers and their children with shelters from the heat. Public places should be well-equipped with adequate drinking water facilities.

Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Sh. Sudhir Rajpal said that the department plans to set up ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) corners at public locations with high foot traffic, such as bus terminals and railway stations, to ensure people have access to fluids for rehydration. Hospitals will have ample stocks of medication to treat and prevent heatstroke. He informed that additional funds have been allocated to all civil surgeons, granting them the flexibility to address heatwave-related emergencies as needed. Hospitals will designate beds in cooler areas to provide relief for those suffering from the heat, shared.

Giving details of measures to prevent and manage heat-related forest fires by the Haryana Forests and Environment Departments, Additional Chief Secretary, Sh. Anand Mohan Sharan, said the department has prioritised fire prevention by repairing the fire fighting systems in Morni and Kalesar, two potentially vulnerable areas. To ensure a prompt response, the department has designated two nodal officers specifically tasked with monitoring potential fire outbreaks.

Additional Chief Secretary, Energy and Public Health Department, Sh. A.K Singh said that the department is taking steps to provide sufficient availability of both power and water during the hot summer months. Alongside ensuring adequate supply, the department is also running a statewide energy conservation campaign.

Meanwhile, Commissioner and Secretary, Irrigation and Water Resources Department, Sh. Pankaj Agarwal, said that the department has taken steps to ensure sufficient water reserves in water houses.

Commissioner and Secretary, Urban Local Bodies Department, Sh. Vikas Gupta said that the department has formulated plans to safeguard urban workers and their children from the harsh heat wave. The measures like creating shaded rest areas or establishing childcare facilities for working parents and water facilities at public places have been included in this plan. To ensure the optimum use of water during the summer, the department has imposed a complete ban on the wastage of water in terms of washing with fresh water in cities. This aims to conserve this vital resource for essential need, he said.

Commissioner and Secretary, Women and Child Development Department, Smt. Amneet P. Kumar said that people will be made aware of heat protection through 26 Anganwadi workers. Commissioner and Secretary, Development and Panchayats Department, Dr. Amit Agrawal, said the department has directed a change in working hours for MGNREGA workers (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). This will likely involve shifting work hours to cooler parts of the day

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Marathon Run for Voter Awareness in Gurugram on April 28

Chandigarh ( DGIPR HARYANA<pnote2018@gmail.com>), April 25 - In a concerted effort to promote voter awareness, various activities are being organized under the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) program to achieve the target of 100 percent voter turnout in Gurugram district. As a part of SVEEP activites, a marathon will be organized in Gurugram on Sunday April 28.

Additional Deputy Commissioner and Nodal Officer for SVEEP, Sh. Hitesh Kumar Meena, chaired a meeting with the officers concerned to finalize plans for the upcoming marathon.

He said that the marathon is being organized from Tau Devi Lal Stadium located in Sector 38 with the help of the district administration. It aims not only to promote physical fitness but also to encourage citizens to exercise their right to vote responsibly.

He said that voter awareness activities have been organized in various institutions including schools, and colleges with the message of ‘Chunav ka Parv, Desh ka Garv.’ In view of the summer season, arrangements for essential health amenities, including drinking water facilities, have been prioritized at the venue. Additionally, special attention has been directed towards maintaining hygienic toilets and providing necessary facilities for the comfort of participants, especially children.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner directed the District Sports Officer to coordinate with the traffic police and identify the 5-kilometer route for the marathon, ensuring adequate signage and barricading for participant safety.