EC plans ‘cVIGIL’ app To be functional after poll code comes into force
Aliya Abreu
PANAJI
The Election Commission of India will log on to technology and partner righteous citizens to raise by several notches its vigilance over election malpractices.
For the first time, Goa is to have Model Code of Conduct sentinels “MCC sentinels” who will assist officials and the election machinery through a “cVIGIL” (Citizen Vigil) app, once elections are announced and the Code of Conduct comes into force in the State.
According to a top functionary in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer, although the app can be downloaded on Google Play Store for Android users even now, it will be fully functional and effective only after the Code of Conduct comes into force.
The cVIGIL app, an initiative of the ECI, was launched nationally mid-2018, but as Goa hasn’t had an election since then, it has not been used here till date. The source said, complaints on the app can be uploaded via a photograph or a short video of the suspected MCC violation such as people caught distributing bribes to voters in cash or kind or any of the other listed MCC violations.
Complaints on the app can be made anonymously, or otherwise. If the complainant has made an identifiable complaint, the office of the CEO will immediately send them an update once action is taken. Action will be taken as soon as the complaint is received, the top official told The Goan. The ECI website explains that one of the reason why the app was devised was to filter false complaints and save time of squads who rush to the locations indicated in the false complaints and waste a lot of time and resources.
“The Commission’s experience has shown a significant percentage of reporting was false or inaccurate, which led to wastage of precious time of Field Units,” reads the explanation of the ECI. The cVIGIL app is expected to fill in all these gaps and create a fast-track complaint reception and redressal system.
The app also has certain in-built features that will prevent misuse. For example, the vigilant citizens will not be able to upload pictures from their phone’s gallery and the violation being reported will have to be shot directly on the app.
Further, the citizen will get just five minutes to make a
complaint after the picture is shot or a video is made.
Citizens are also discouraged from trying to use the app to settle personal scores. “The District Controller will be empowered to drop a cVIGIL complaint without any further recourse, in case personal grievances are registered through the app or the digital attachment of a cVIGIL complaint is found to be unrelated to a MCC violation,” the ECI said on its website.
HOW THE APP WILL WORK
Complaints can be uploaded via photograph or short video of violation
Plaints can be of bribe distribution in cash or kind or any listed violation
Can be made anonymously, or otherwise
If complainant has made an identifiable complaint, update will be sent once action is taken
Officials to take action as soon as complaint is received
MISUSE CHECKED
Citizens will not be able to upload pictures from phone’s gallery
Violation being reported will have to be shot directly on app
Citizen will get just five minutes to make complaint after picture is shot or video is made
Citizens discouraged from trying to use app to settle personal scores
