Final Cover Election Expenditure - Election Commission of India

visitor. It shall further be ensured that the candidate does not make any financialcontribution for arranging such community kitchen, etc. and no political campaign in anymanner is undertaken at such community kitchen, etc. The restrictions on the communitykitches,etc., as mentioned above, shall be over after the completion of poll/repoll in theconstituency.(Commission’s Instruction letter No. 76/Instruction /2011/EEM,dated 5 th December, 2011Annexure 60)5.10.4. Checking Distribution of Tokens to be exchanged for gifts or cash or distribution ofmoney through various means:Another form of corrupt practice in respect of which there have been complaints in the pastrelates to distribution of tokens by parties/candidates to the voters. It is also reported thattoken distribution is done at the time of Aarti offering or in meetings/functions and pawnbrokers are used as channels for bribing the voters. In order to ensure that there is no scopefor misuse, token distribution through any method including in meetings/ functions held forelection campaigning or social gatherings should be checked by collecting proper evidencesand lodging police complaints. The DEO should arrange meeting with citizen forum,volunteers, Nehru Yuva Kendras and other NGOs to get appropriate information in righttime about such activities. The DEO shall also collect the list of pawn brokers and keep themunder close watch including involving the Assistant Director / Deputy Director Income taxin charge of the district for necessary action under Income Tax Act.5.10.5. Checking distribution of cash by candidates/ political parties along with disbursementof wages under any Government scheme:Representations were received in the Election Commission alleging that money was beinggiven on the eve of the elections by political parties/ candidates to workers over and abovethe wages due under the Govt. Schemes like Rural Employment Scheme, and various otherschemes of Government to influence the voters. It is to be noted that while poor people arenot put to hardship due to the Model Code of Conduct, the disbursement of any cash bypolitical parties / candidates in addition to wages to which the workers are entitled under theScheme, is not permissible. This is a corrupt practice and an electoral offence. The DistrictElection Officers should monitor the disbursement of wages and other benefits underGovernment schemes so as to ensure that there is no payment of cash or gift article by anycandidate/ political party along with the wages under the Scheme. It is also noticed that thecash benefits (both arrears and advance amount) under the Government schemes aredisbursed on the eve of elections, to bring influence on the electors. It will be theresponsibility of DEOs to ensure that no such arrear or advance is disbursed within 72 hoursof the day of poll.5.10.6. Monitoring of Production, Storage and Distribution of liquor during elections:In order to curb the liquor menace, the following actions shall be initiated from the date ofthe notification of elections till the date of poll:-31