Presiding, polling, and counting officers to get greater pay: ECI revises charges

The Election Fee of India (ECI) has revised the remuneration for presiding officers, polling officers, counting personnel, and different officers concerned within the conduct of elections.

As per the brand new charges, a Presiding Officer or Counting Supervisor, who earlier obtained Rs 350 per day (or half thereof), will now be paid Rs 500 per day or Rs 2,000 as a lump sum.

Polling Officers, who have been earlier paid Rs 250 per day, will now obtain Rs 400 per day or Rs 1,600 lump sum. Counting Assistants will now be paid Rs 450 per day or Rs 1,350 lump sum, up from Rs 250 earlier.

The honorarium for Deputy District Election Officers (Dy DEOs) has additionally been revised. They may now be paid not lower than one month’s fundamental pay of the involved officer.

The honorarium for CAPF Gazetted Officers — together with Commandants, Advert hoc Commandants, Deputy Commandants, Assistant Commandants, Medical Officers, and equal ranks — has been fastened at Rs 4,000 for as much as 15 days, or Rs 2,000 per week for deployments exceeding 15 days.

The remuneration for subordinate employees of CAPFs has been enhanced accordingly. Sector Officers and different officers concerned within the conduct of polling will even obtain an elevated honorarium.

Moreover, the ECI has fastened Rs 500 per day in direction of packed lunch and lightweight refreshments for polling personnel, police personnel, cell events, Residence Guards, Forest Guards, Gram Rakshak Dal, NCC cadets, ex-servicemen, and volunteers deployed at polling stations and counting centres.

In a press release, the ECI stated, “Conduct of elections entails numerous actions carried out by an election equipment consisting of officers and employees requisitioned from numerous departments of the Central Authorities, State Governments, PSUs, Native Authorities, and so forth.”

It added, “Through the election interval, your entire equipment performs arduous and delicate duties, usually working lengthy hours for a number of months to make sure a conducive atmosphere through which electors can train their franchise freely. To make sure appropriate compensation for such efforts, the Fee has revised the remuneration/honorarium charges.”

The final main revision in election obligation remuneration was carried out between 2014 and 2016.