SEC hikes rural poll expenses, provides insurance for poll officials – myuttarakhandnews.com | Uttarakhand News in English | Dehradun News Today| News Uttarakhand | Uttarakhand latest news

PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun With full-fledged preparations going on for the three-tier rural polls in Uttarakhand slated in two phases, the State Election Commission has announced a slew of moves to make the polls technically stronger. The moves include availability of the electoral rolls online, hike in election-related expenses and insurance to be provided for the poll officials. The voters list has been made available online for the first time. Now, the candidates and voters can download the gram panchayat-level list on the official website of the commission. Besides, the limits of election-related expenses for all stages of the polls have been hiked compared to the last election. While the limit for the post of gram pradhan has been increased from Rs 50, 000 to Rs 75,000 the same for the president of the district panchayat has been hiked from Rs 3, 50, 000 to Rs 4, 00, 000. Moreover, it has been decided that an insurance will be provided to the officials to be engaged in electioneering.   As per the decision, if a polling official dies on duty the next of kin will receive Rs 10 lakh. The move has already received the administration’s clearance, according to the commission’s sources.