Jharkhand News: Election Commission Directs Officials to Minimize Use of School Buses During Elections

Ranchi, October 22,2024: The Election Commission has issued directives to officials across various districts to ensure minimal use of school buses during the upcoming election days. In a recent online meeting, Chief Electoral Officer K. Ravi Kumar emphasized the importance of efficient vehicle management to minimize disruption to public transportation and ensure that students’ education remains unaffected.

Minimizing Disruption to Public Transport

The Chief Electoral Officer highlighted that transportation arrangements for polling days should be managed without significantly impacting public mobility. During the meeting, officials were instructed to coordinate their transportation plans to avoid creating difficulties for the general public on election days.

“Our objective is to ensure that citizens can commute without facing any inconvenience during polling,” said Ravi Kumar.

He reiterated that transportation should not affect daily life and public transport should remain as accessible as possible. The use of school buses, which are often requisitioned for election duty, must be done thoughtfully, ensuring minimal disruption to regular school schedules.

Guidelines for School Bus Use

According to the Election Commission’s guidelines, school buses may be requisitioned for election duties, but their use should be restricted to the movement of polling personnel. Officials were instructed to coordinate with schools to acquire buses without affecting classes.

Ravi Kumar emphasized that school transport should only be used for election purposes when absolutely necessary, and efforts should be made to release these buses as soon as polling duties are completed.

“For the upcoming polling on November 13, the requisition of school buses should begin on the evening of November 11,” Ravi Kumar stated. “These vehicles should be released promptly the next morning, allowing them to return to their usual schedules and causing minimal disruption to schools.”

Similarly, for the second phase of polling on November 20, he emphasized a similar approach of minimal disruption and efficient planning.

Efficient Coordination for Vehicle Management

The Election Commission has directed officials to coordinate closely with neighboring districts and states to ensure sufficient availability of vehicles without causing unnecessary strain on local resources. This approach aims to ensure that any transportation needs are met effectively while maintaining a smooth flow of public transportation.

Kumar stated that it is important for authorities to work in tandem with nearby regions to arrange for additional vehicles if required. He also mentioned that detailed records of all requisitioned vehicles should be maintained in the commission’s vehicle management system for efficient monitoring and accountability.

Timely Payment for Vehicle Services

In addition to guidelines on transportation, the Chief Electoral Officer also addressed the matter of payment to vehicle owners. Kumar directed that all payments for private, government, or borrowed vehicles be made promptly, following the stipulated guidelines.

Ensuring timely and fair compensation is key to encouraging vehicle owners’ cooperation during elections.

Officials were reminded to adhere strictly to the guidelines concerning vehicle rates and payment procedures, ensuring smooth operations on election days. Ravi Kumar added, “We have set rates for the vehicles, and payments should be processed in line with these standards to maintain transparency and trust.”

Key Figures Present at the Meeting

The review meeting saw the participation of several key officials. Among them were State Police Nodal Officer A.V. Homkar, Secretary of the Transport Department Kripanand Jha, Additional Chief Electoral Officer Dr. Neha Arora, DIG Indrajeet Mehta and DIG Dhananjay Singh along with senior officials from the Transport Department and the Election Commission’s vehicle management cell.

These representatives discussed strategies to ensure efficient transportation arrangements while adhering to the Election Commission’s directives.