POONCH: General Observer for the Anantnag-Rajouri Parliamentary Constituency, Sanjeev Kumar Besra and Police Observer, Akhileshwar Singh today presided over a meeting of zonal and sectoral magistrates here to assess the preparedness for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the border district of Poonch.

District Election Officer, (DC) Poonch, Yasin M. Choudhary was also present in the  meeting, held in Dak Bunglow and attended by  Additional Deputy Commissioner, Tahir Mustafa Malik,  ACR Poonch, Qadeer Ul Rehman,  Deputy Election Officer, Mohd. Saleem, Nodal officer to general observer, Mohd. Rafiq, ACD Poonch, Shafiq Mir besides nodal officers and other concerned employees were present.

During the meeting, a detailed discussion took place regarding the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), complaint monitoring, communication plan, SMS monitoring, Media certification and monitoring committee (MCMC), material management, storage of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), training and Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP), printing of ballot papers, transport plan, randomization of polling parties, and the strong room, among other topics.

Deputy Commissioner Poonch, Yasin M. Choudhary, provided a brief overview of the election process in the district, highlighting its significance and the responsibilities of the officers involved.

The Observer urged the officers to carry out their duties with dedication and a profound sense of responsibility. He emphasized the importance of ensuring a smooth and transparent electoral process and extended his best wishes in advance for the successful conduct of the elections.

Prior to the meeting, the Observer conducted a thorough inspection of the election cell, strong room, control room and polling booths.

During the inspection, the Observer issued necessary directions to the concerned officials to ensure free fair and transparent election.

Furthermore, the Observer paid particular attention to the strong room, where Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) are securely stored. He emphasized the significance of maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of these machines, as they play a vital role in the electoral process.

Meanwhile, a cultural programme and Mushaira were held under SVEEP at DKC Degree College Auditorium Poonch.

During the programme, students from different educational institutions exhibited their talents through various cultural items, all centered around the theme of SVEEP.

The District Administration Poonch expressed heartfelt appreciation to all the participants, including the poets, artists, and students, for their outstanding performances and their efforts in spreading awareness about the importance of electoral participation.