New Delhi, Mar 4 (UNI) Ahead of the Assembly polls in four states and one Union Territory, the Election Commission of India on Thursday started COVID-19 vaccination drive for its officers and staff working at Nirvachan Sadan, here.
Former chief election commissioner M.S. Gill took the first shot of vaccine, to mark the beginning of the vaccination drive. Chief Election Commissioner of India Sunil Arora and Election Commissioners Sushil Chandra and Rajiv Kumar will get vaccinated after all the officials and staff at Election Commission have benefitted from the vaccination programme.
The Chief Election Commissioner recently announced that all staff on poll duty for the upcoming assembly elections have been declared as ‘frontline workers’ and therefore will be vaccinated before assuming their election duties.
He added that the vaccination would encourage the poll duty officers to perform their duty without any COVID fear. Mr Arora further said that the nationwide vaccination drive has made the situation more conducive for conducting elections. Special camp has also been setup at ECI with provision of doctors, ambulance etc.
Under the special vaccination drive, lakh of polling officials across five states and UT will take the vaccination shots before proceeding on election duty for the upcoming assembly elections.
Polling will be held in Assam, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Kerala and Union Territory Puducherry in three phases starting from March 27. Counting of votes will take place on May 2.
