Content :
- Three new initiatives by ECI
- NHRC, India calls for preventive measures by 11 States to protect the lives of vulnerable people from heat waves in this summer
Three new initiatives by ECI
The Election Commission of India, has launched three key reforms to enhance voter services and electoral transparency. These include real-time death data integration, redesigned Voter Information Slips, and standardized ID cards for BLOs(Booth Level Officers).
Relevance : GS 2(Elections)
Electronic Access to Death Registration Data
- Objective: Improve accuracy of electoral rolls by timely removal of deceased voters.
- Mechanism:
- ECI to electronically obtain death registration data from the Registrar General of India.
- Legal backing:
- Rule 9 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960
- Section 3(5)(b) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (amended in 2023)
- Impact:
- Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) receive real-time data.
- Booth Level Officers (BLOs) can verify on ground proactively—no need for Form 7 submission.
Voter Information Slips (VIS) – More Voter-Friendly Design
- Objective: Enhance voter convenience and clarity.
- Changes Made:
- Prominent display of serial number and part number.
- Larger font size for easier readability.
- Impact:
- Easier for voters to locate polling station.
- Improves efficiency for polling officials on election day.
Standard Photo Identity Cards for BLOs
- Objective: Improve transparency and trust in voter verification processes.
- Directive:
- All BLOs (appointed under Section 13B(2), Representation of the People Act, 1950) to be issued official photo ID cards.
- Impact:
- BLOs become easily recognizable during field visits.
- Citizens can interact confidently with BLOs during house-to-house verifications.
NHRC, India calls for preventive measures by 11 States to protect the lives of vulnerable people from heat waves in this summer
Context & Current Development
- The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a directive (1 May 2025) to 11 heatwave-prone states to take preemptive and preventive measures.
- Triggered by NCRB data: 3,798 deaths (2018–2022) from heat and sun strokes, highlighting increasing mortality risk due to climate-related extremes.
Relevance : GS 3(Disaster Management)
Roots & Institutional Frameworks
- Constitutional Mandate: Article 21 ensures the right to life and dignity—includes protection from extreme weather.
- NDMA Guidelines (2016): Laid out heat action plans, early warning systems, and protocols for treating heat-related illnesses.
- State SOPs: Many states (e.g., Maharashtra, Odisha) have Heat Action Plans (HAPs), but implementation remains uneven.
- Vulnerability Mapping: Historical neglect of homeless, outdoor laborers, elderly, children, and slum dwellers in climate-resilience frameworks.
Core Concerns Raised by NHRC
- Inadequate shelter and relief infrastructure for economically weaker sections.
- Lack of modification in working hours, especially for manual outdoor workers.
- Poor dissemination of ORS, fans, hydration support, or public cooling spaces.
- Deficient public healthcare preparedness for heatstroke treatment.
Targeted States
(11 states frequently hit by intense summer heatwaves):
- Northern Belt: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar
- Central & Eastern India: Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha
- Deccan & Western India: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Rajasthan
NHRC Recommendations (as per NDMA guidelines)
Immediate Preemptive Measures:
- Activate cool shelters: Schools, anganwadis, community halls with basic ventilation and water.
- Distribute ORS, cool roof materials, fans, especially in slum colonies and labour camps.
- Alter working hours: Encourage early morning/late evening shifts with shaded rest areas.
- Medical Preparedness: Train PHC/CHC staff in heat illness treatment and standard treatment protocols.
Implications & Required Actions
1. Public Health & Urban Governance
- Integration of urban health planning with climate risk mapping.
- Inclusion of heatwave preparedness in Smart Cities Mission and urban local body mandates.
2. Labor Rights & Social Protection
- Formal recognition of heatwaves as occupational hazard under Labour Codes.
- Mandate compensatory breaks, rest shelters, hydration zones at work sites.
3. Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)
- Mainstreaming Heat Action Plans (HAPs) as core part of State Disaster Management Plans (SDMPs).
- State must submit Action Taken Reports (ATRs) to NHRC based on existing SOPs.
4. Welfare for Vulnerable Groups
- Include homeless and elderly in pre-summer relief planning.
- Deploy community workers, ASHAs, and NGOs to monitor and respond at grassroots.
5. Climate Resilience Policy
- Incorporate urban heat island mitigation through cool roofs, green spaces, and reflective surfaces.
- Funded via State Climate Action Plans and Climate Resilience Financing Tools.
