Sielmat (hilldigest.com): Several messages supposedly issued by some BLOs directing officials to collect Rs 30 from voters have created confusion among the people in several areas in Churachandpur District.
“Please mention the EPIC Card No. in the Xerox Copy of the Aadhaar. And collect ₹30/- per head for verification,” reads one such text, a copy of which is available with hilldigest.com.
Hilldigest.com, however, learnt from some BLOs of Churachandpur districts that payment of “Rs 30 is not compulsory, it is purely voluntary. If people can pay, let them pay. If people cannot pay, they need not pay,” one block development officer said while explaining the reason why some BLOs may have asked officials to collect Rs 30. He said that some verification centres facing a shortage of official manpower employed the service of private CSCs and this is allowed per rules.
However, CSCs cannot charge a hefty amount. “Only a nominal amount of service can be charged,” another block development officer from Churachandpur district said on condition of anonymity.
Hilldigest.com attempts to get a reaction from Churachandpur District’s chief electoral officer has not yielded any results at the time of filing this report. A clarification has been Manipur CEO and the Election Commission of India.
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