Warangal Urban tops in fight for fair polls

Warangal: Warangal Urban District has led the way in terms of disposal of complaints received through the cVIGIL, an app-based initiative that allows administration track violations of the model code of conduct and election expenditure.

This apart, the Urban district unit of the Helpline 1950, a tollfree number that helps citizens get information about electors' photo identity cards (EPICs), voter slips etc., did a splendid job by resolving citizens' grievances.

The flood of queries and complaints, the Warangal Urban District administration has received indicate the success of the Election Commission (EC) of India which has been untiringly trying to ensure election process transparent than never before.

The cVIGIL is one such a tool that provides teeth to law-enforcers, who hitherto failed to make an impact due to delay in reporting code violations and lack of documentary evidences like photos or video clips.

The app allows citizens immediately report on incidents of infringement of MCC within minutes so that to allow the election officials reach the spot and take action against the wrongdoers. The cVIGIL app, which works when the model code of conduct (MCC) is in force, is active in poll-bound States.

The app will hide the complainant's phone number. Speaking to The Hans India, Returning Officer for Warangal Lok Sabha constituency and Urban District Collector Prashanth Jeevan Patil said: "Within minutes after photographs or videos of the violation landed at the control room, the officials concerned rushed to the spot.

Each field unit (flying squads, static surveillance teams) had a GIS-based mobile application called cVIGIL Dispatcher, which helps them to directly reach the location through navigation technology."

The administration had received 409 complaints through cVIGIL from three Assembly segments – Warangal East, West and Wardhannapet in Urban district from March 1 to April 11, polling day. Of which, 345 complaints were found correct by the officials.

On the other hand, the 1950 Helpline Desk at the Urban Collectorate has been flooded with queries up to polling day.

In all, the Helpline Desk has received a whopping 10,016 queries. All the queries except seven have been resolved by the Helpline, the officials said.

"Notwithstanding the EC's effort to bring in transparency in the electoral process, people's participation is key to success in upholding the values of democracy.

The EC is taking every possible measure to create a sense of transparency through ensuring conducive atmosphere for the free and fair elections," Patil said.