Bhilai, Nov 18: The administration has completed all the preparations for the assembly polls scheduled on November 20. Here in Durg District, 12,91,570 voters will exercise their franchise in this election. Special arrangements have been made for the Divyang voters.
Addressing media persons here on Sunday, District Election Officer Umesh Kumar Agrawal informed that out of a total 1291570 voters, 649901 are male, 641559 are female while 7532 are third gender. The number of Divyang voters is 7532 in the district out of which 1077 are hearing impaired; 842 are vision impaired; 5461 are loco motor impaired while 197 are disabled in other categories. For ensuring accessible polling for Divyangs, arrangement of 717 wheel chairs; 1321 ramps; 691 voter slips in Braille; 1321 Braille Ballot papers, etc have been made. 4900 volunteers of NSS / NCC will be positioned at the polling booths for assisting the Divyang voters. 1321 waiting halls have been established for Divyang and elderly people.
Polling will be held at 1442 polling booths including 07 sub-booths. Nine polling booths have been categorized as Sangwari Booths while the number of Model Polling Booths is 23.
1442 Presiding Officers; and the same numbers of Election Officer – 01, Election Officer -02; and Election Officer – 03 have been positioned in the booths. 145 Reserve Presiding Officers and 435 Reserve Election Officers have been positioned. The entire district has been divided into 132 sectors in which 382 micro observers have been deployed. 584 booths are categorized as sensitive. Web Casting (Live telecast) of election proceedings will be conducted from 158 polling booths.
In Patan constituency, 113 booths are categorized as general while 128 are categorized as sensitive. In Durg (Rural); 144 are categorized as general while 77 are categorized as sensitive booths. In Durg (Urban); 141 booths are general while 68 booths are categorized as sensitive. In Bhilai Nagar; 107 are general booths while 77 are categorized as sensitive. In Vaishali Nagar; 134 are categorized as general while 102 are categorized as sensitive. In Ahiwara; 155 are categorized as general while 96 are categorized as sensitive. In Saja; 51 are categorized as general while 48 are categorized as sensitive. In Bemetara; 13 are general while nine booths are categorized as sensitive.
Detailing about the security arrangements; District Collector informed that 532 personnel of Paramilitary Forces have been positioned at 532 places where polling will be held while CRPF has been deployed in 192 places besides the district and state police forces. 132 police officers have been positioned as sector officers. There will be 65 Quick Response Teams and seven teams will be reserved at Assembly level. 36 companies of CRPF have been deployed in security arrangements. One company has been positioned for security of Strong Room.