EC hikes remuneration for poll officials ahead of assembly elections in 5 states | India News

NEW DELHI: The Election Commission has increased remuneration for presiding officers, polling staff, counting personnel, micro-observers, and other officials associated with the conduct of polls ahead of the assembly elections in five states, an official said on Wednesday.The official said the revised structure aims to ensure adequate compensation and incentivise staff working long and demanding hours during elections.Assembly elections will be held in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Kerala and Puducherry next month.The daily allowance for presiding officers has been increased from Rs 350 earlier to Rs 500 per day, or a total of Rs 2,000 for the assignment, he said.Polling officers will now receive Rs 400 per day, up from Rs 250 earlier, or a one-time payment of Rs 1,600, the official said.Counting assistants’ daily pay has risen to Rs 450 from Rs 250, or a one-time total of Rs 1,350, he said, adding that fourth-class staff engaged directly at polling stations will now get Rs 350 daily, up from Rs 200, or Rs 1,400 as a one-time payment.Staff working at call centres or control rooms in the same category will receive a one-time allowance of Rs 1,000, up from Rs 200 daily, he added.The hike also includes support teams such as video surveillance, video monitoring, accounting, control room, and call centre personnel.“For Class I and II staff, one-time remuneration has increased from Rs 1,200 to Rs 3,000. For Class III staff, it has gone up from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000,” the official said.Micro-observers will now receive Rs 2,000 as a one-time payment, up from Rs 1,000 previously.Daily tiffin allowances for polling staff, police personnel, mobile teams, and home guards have also been increased from Rs 150 to Rs 500 per day.“Even senior officials deployed for election duties have been given a pay enhancement. Deputy DEOs will now receive at least one month’s basic pay as honorarium, whereas CAPF gazetted officers and inspectors at various levels will see their allowances significantly raised depending on the length of duty,” the official added.The revised rates for CAPF officers include: for gazetted officers serving up to 15 days, Rs 4,000 instead of Rs 2,500; for longer durations, Rs 2,000 per week instead of Rs 1,250.Inspectors, SIs, ASIs, and equivalent staff will get Rs 3,000 for up to 15 days, and Rs 1,500 per week for longer periods, compared to earlier rates of Rs 2,000 and Rs 1,000 respectively, the official said.