Final Cover Election Expenditure - Election Commission of India

5.10. Other Monitoring Mechanism :5.10.1. Monitoring of Accounts of Self Help Groups, NGOs etc.There have been complaints pertaining to Self Help Groups, NGOs etc. being made conduitsby the political parties/ candidates for distribution of money/ materials and are being utilizedfor election campaigns. Inasmuch as the revolving fund/ economic assistance is channelisedthrough the DRDAs, it should be easily possible to monitor the SHGs closely so as to ensurethat they are not utilized for distribution of money/ materials which is a corrupt practice andan electoral offence with reference to the provisions of the RP Act, 1951 and the IPC. TheDEOs shall call for report on alternate day of the SHG /NGO activities in their districtduring the election process.5.10.2. Checking Distribution of gift articles/ serving of food in Marriage/ Community Halls:There are frequent complaints of Marriage Halls/ Community halls or other big Halls beingutilized in the past for distribution of gift articles (like dhotis/ sarees)/ serving of food etc.The use of Marriage Halls/ Community Halls and similar places during election periodshould be kept under watch by the District electoral machinery with reference to the purposeof booking for which some evidence (like marriage invitation) must be obtained so that thereis no camouflage of expenses for election purposes. The DEOs shall collect daily reports ofsuch bookings and see that no fake party is being organized for influencing the voters.Report of any suspicious booking/event should be handed over to the Assistant/Dy. Directorof Income Tax, in charge of the district, who will examine the expenses from Income taxangle. Large scale feeding under the cloak of “Annadanam” outside places of worship willgive room for suspicion that serving of food is being resorted to influence the voters on theeve of the election, which is a corrupt practice and an electoral offence with reference toSection 123 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 and the provisions in Chapter IX-A of IPC. The CEOs/ DEOs should ensure that in case of any suspicion about feeding on alarge scale, necessary steps should be taken to prevent it.5.10.3. A doubt has been raised with regard to participation of candidates in the community kitchens(langar, bhoj, etc.) organised by religious communities in their religious institutions as amatter of customary practice and the bhoj/feast, etc. offered as a matter of social practicefollowing a ritual ceremony, like, marriage, death, etc As per the Commission`s instructionNo. 76/Instruction/2011/EEM dated 05.12.2011 (Annexure 60) expenditure on thecommunity functions shall be treated as the election expenses of a candidate and added toaccount of the candidate, if any contesting candidate(s) attends the community kitchen ( inwhatever name has been called ) either organised by him or by any other person to entertainthe electors. However, this instruction does not apply to community kitchens/langars, etc.organised by religious communities within their religious institutions as a customary practiceor the bhoj/feast, etc. offered by any person (other than the candidate) in the normal courseto celebrate any ceremony like, marriage, death, etc., and the expenses incurred on suchcommunity kitchen/ langar / bhoj/feast, etc. shall not be included in the election expenses ofthe candidate, provided that the candidate participates there in the normal course as a normal30