Reserve poll staff in Bijnor say no food given, protest

  • | Wednesday | 22nd November, 2017

As the reserve employees could not get food, they created a ruckus in RJP Inter College booth. The authorities concerned, however, said that reserve staff were given money for food and other expenditure. Reserve employees are free to buy their own food from any place.” Talking to TOI, Neeraj Kumar and Robin Kumar, who were on reserve, alleged that the administration provided food to working polling parties twice, but ignored those who were on reserve. For smooth conduct of elections, around 852 polling parties were deputed at different polling boots.

Bijnor: As the first phase of Uttar Pradesh local body elections began on Wednesday, government employees — who were kept on reserve for polling duty in Bijnor — protested as they were "not served food throughout the day".The employees claimed that the authorities were supposed to provide food to them while on duty but this did not happen, prompting them to protest. The authorities concerned, however, said that reserve staff were given money for food and other expenditure. In all, five municipal corporations, along with 71 municipal boards and 154 nagar panchayats in 24 districts voted in the first phase.There are 18 cities and towns in Bijnor district where voters exercised their franchise. Around 10,000 police personnel were also deputed in the district to conduct fair and peaceful elections. Around 89 CCTV cameras have been installed at sensitive booths. Besides, 570 cameras were also installed at other places. Election observer V K Anand was present at Bijnor to monitor the polling. For smooth conduct of elections, around 852 polling parties were deputed at different polling boots. Apart from this, 95 polling parties were kept on reserve in the district, in case any untoward incident happened.On the polling day on Wednesday, the markets remained closed because of polling and as a result these reserve employees could not buy food the entire day. As the reserve employees could not get food, they created a ruckus in RJP Inter College booth. Talking to TOI, Neeraj Kumar and Robin Kumar, who were on reserve, alleged that the administration provided food to working polling parties twice, but ignored those who were on reserve. "We had to face lot of problem throughout the day as we were not provided food. It felt like we were on fast. We requested the authorities concerned several times to make arrangements for food to us but they kept mum over the issue.”On being asked about the matter, chief development officer Indramani Tripathi said, “The election commission provides money to all employees deputed for election duty. This covers expenditure on food and travel allowance. There is no provision of providing food to such employees. On humanitarian ground, the administration provides food items to employees who are on active duty so that the work assigned to them does not suffer. Reserve employees are free to buy their own food from any place.”

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