EVMs tamper-proof, problem lies with VVPATs, says former EC chief
New Delhi : It is not the electronic voting machines (EVMs), but the technical glitches reported in the use of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) that have set off concerns about the technology, former chief election commissioner (CEC) Navin Chawla said on Saturday.
EVMs equipped with VVPATs were used in last year’s elections in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat, allowing voters to verify that their vote had indeed gone to the candidate of their choice. VVPATs were aimed at ensuring transparency in the voting process.
On Thursday, as many as 17 opposition parties revived their demand for reverting to paper ballots in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Leaders of these parties familiar with the development said EVMs, even if they come equipped with the VVPATs, would not be acceptable and they will meet the Election Commission over the next week to push their demand.
Chawla claimed that the efficiency of the EVMs is not in doubt.
“I believe I speak for all of the former chief election commissioners when I say that the electronic voting machine by itself is tamper-proof. The EVMs were used over the years in several elections before they were comprehensively used during the 2004 general elections. They have been used subsequently in 2009 and 2014 general elections as well,” he said.
Referring to the glitches that were reported when the VVPATs were pressed into service during the recent bypolls in Uttar Pradesh’s Kairana and Maharashtra’s Bhandra-Gondiya, Chawla said: “The problem I believe lies with the VVPATs. The use of VVPATs has only recently started; after being selectively used in some elections on a trial basis. The error rate of VVPATs reported is about 5% and may be higher.”
He went on to add: “I can’t say whether the error is on account of the staff not being trained adequately or because of intrinsic problems; but it is these errors that are creating doubts in political parties.”
The Election Commission, on its part, has attributed the glitches to direct light falling on the sensors, and technical issues set off by humidity that in turn affected the thermal paper used in the VVPAT machines.
The former CEC also suggested that tallying of votes recorded in the VVPTAs and EVMs should be done on a larger scale. “Also, at the moment the results are tallied only in one polling station in each constituency. This should be increased to about 5-10% of the total constituencies as this will assuage the doubts of political parties,” he said.
The election commission has reiterated that it will continue to use EVMs along with the VVPATs in all forthcoming elections. The commission has also urged political parties to refrain from casting aspersions on the efficacy and security of these machines, pointing out that these are not only programmed to prevent manipulation or tampering, but are also made to go through stringent checks before polling.
courtesy : hindustantimes.com
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
