Volunteers of National Service Scheme (NSS) and cadets of National Cadet Corps (NCC) will for the first time be deployed for election duty in Uttar Pradesh and other states going for Assembly polls in 2012. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has planned to deploy NSS volunteers and NCC cadets outside polling stations on election day to maintain discipline and ensure voters stand in queue without facing inconvenience. Sources said the ECI in New Delhi had already discussed the idea and orders in this regard would be issued soon. An official said the volunteers will preferably assist elderly and physically challenged voters to reach the polling booth entrance. They will assist other voters by checking their names in alphabetical electoral roll locators provided outside the booth. Sources said the ECI has planned to deploy the volunteers at polling stations with more than 1,000 voters and where there are more than two booths in the same place. In UP,there are about 1.28 lakh polling stations. The states Chief Electoral Office has received a report of over 2.5 lakh NSS volunteers and 25,000 NCC cadets in academic institutions in the state. ECI will take the service of only those who volunteer. We are so far getting volunteers for polling stations in urban areas only. But volunteers belonging to rural areas could be deployed at polling booths in their respective areas, said Umesh Sinha,Chief Electoral Officer,UP. Before the polls,NSS and NCC volunteers will be given training about the polling process,and dos and donts on polling day,Sinha said. They will also be provided a voters guide. ECI will train select volunteers to develop them as master trainers,who will subsequently give training to other volunteers in their respective colleges. Volunteers will be taught the use of EVMs and checking electoral rolls. They will guide voters if they do not carry proper identity documents. The District Election Officers will be responsible for arranging for deployment and records of volunteers. The idea of engaging NCC and NSS volunteers is to conduct voter-friendly elections. Usually a large number of voters do not turn up apprehending inconvenience at polling booths. With uniformed volunteers to assist them,voter turnout will increase, Sinha said. Sources said the ECI was considering paying an honorarium to the volunteers. The UP CEO will also them a certificate. Prior to that,NSS volunteers will be engaged for registration of new voters in colleges in the summary revision beginning September 29. NSS volunteers of AP Sen Memorial Girls College in Charbagh area of Lucknow will also take out a voter awareness rally on Saturday morning in the presence of senior election officials.
