The Hindu : Front Page : Full voter ID cards coverage unlikely

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 02, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Full voter ID cards coverage unlikely

Karthik Subramanian

Only 10 out of 14 constituencies covered

Voter ID cards being issued: PHOTO: K. PICHUMANI

CHENNAI: Distribution of electoral photo identity cards (EPIC) in the city's assembly constituencies is progressing at a slower pace than officials anticipated.

Chennai Corporation officials started the exercise on February 20 with a target to cover an estimated 18 lakh voters. Though the election officials said during the launch they would extend the programme in a phased manner to all 14 constituencies in a week, so far they have been able to extend it only to 10 constituencies — Royapuram, Park Town, Harbour, Perambur, R.K.Nagar, Purasawalkam, Anna Nagar, Egmore, T.Nagar and Thousand Lights.

According to sources, approximately 50,000 voter cards were issued in the last ten days.

With the election notification due on April 13, officials are hoping to wind up the exercise by March end.

But at the present rate, it seems unlikely that they would achieve anything close to cent per coverage.

The officials planned to hand over application forms for voter identity card directly to households.

The voters who declared they did not have identity ID cards during the previous intensive revision were to be covered. However, the officials and the agency are reportedly struggling to meet the target.

Several residents are confused on whether or not to apply afresh for new voter cards in case of change of residence.

In a statement issued earlier, Chennai Corporation Commissioner and District Election Officer M.P.Vijayakumar said voters who had valid voter identity ID cards need not apply afresh. Even voter cards issued in other districts or State were valid.

Responding to repeated queries, the officials said electoral registration officers (Corporation Zonal Officers) would continue to receive applications for inclusion of names in the voter list even after the final publication of rolls.

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