Karwar: The cVIGIL mobile application launched by the Election Commission of India (ECI) that enables people to report model code of conduct violations continues to be subjected to frivolous use in Uttara Kannada Parliamentary Constituency.
Most of the complaints received by the District Control Room through this app are not genuine. From the day the control room was opened, as many as 131 complaints have been received through the app but the Assistant election officer has considered only 31 as genuine cases.
“The staff at the control room set up in the deputy commissioner’s office has reviewed all the complaints received through the app. Of the total 131 complaints received, 59 complaints were dropped by the district review committee itself as they were either not related to elections or were fake. Some other complaints were repeated. Another 39 complaints were disposed at the assistant election officer-level. Two complaints are in a review stage,” said District Control Officer In-charge Praveen Patil.
Nature of complaints
Patil said that most of the complaints received through the app are related to illegal sale of liquor and display of posters and banners with pictures of political leaders even though the model code of conduct was in place. This apart, there were complaints regarding the distribution of freebies, retaining of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pictures on Janoushadhi Kendras and delivering of provoking and religious speech. “All these complaints have been reviewed and disposed of,” Patil added.
Patil said that of the complaints received through the cVigil app, two were related to warning of people to boycott elections. The people of Sirsi and Bhatkal had demanded to solve their water problem and provide basic facilities to their villages. The issue was brought to the attention of the respective election officers who responded to it.
What is cVigil?
The Election Commission has developed cVigil android mobile phone application to allow citizens to report any violation in the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) and alert election authorities immediately with just a few taps on their mobile phones.
Through this app, citizens can lodge their complaints related to the threatening of voters, causing enmity between voters on caste and religious lines, character assassination of candidates, exhibition of banners, flags and boards on the premises of private persons, and obstructing public meetings or jathas of candidates.
The app can be downloaded for free through the Google Play store on Android mobile phones. They can then upload photos or videos related to the violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The complaints immediately reach the
District Control Room where it is first reviewed. Based on the nature of the complaint, officers urge the assistant
election officers to review it. Within no time, an action is taken in case of genuine complaints.
Identity kept secret
“The identity of the complainant is kept secret and so, people must not hesitate to lodge complaints. cVIGIL app is the Election Commission’s attempt to create a fast-track complaint reception and redressal system. It also urges citizens to be more vigilant and to play a proactive and responsible role in the conduct of free and fair elections,” officers said.