The Rajasthan State Election Commission has allocated Rs 210.35 crore to districts for conducting the Panchayati Raj elections, while imposing detailed controls on how the election budget can be spent. The directions cover transport, polling arrangements, allowances, refreshments, videography and post-election accounting.
Jaipur has received the highest allocation at Rs 9.7 crore, followed by Sikar with Rs 8.2 crore, Bhilwara with Rs 8 crore, Jodhpur with Rs 7.4 crore and Udaipur with Rs 7.3 crore. The funds will be used for polling-related requirements, including travel allowances, vehicle hire, refreshments, videography, tents, barricading, advertisements and other election arrangements.
The commission has directed district election officers to spend the funds only under sanctioned budget heads and within the approved limits. Districts have also been instructed to assess their actual requirements accurately and avoid drawing advance or accounting bills for amounts higher than the expenditure needed.
To control transport costs, government vehicles are to be used wherever possible for moving polling parties, zonal magistrates, police personnel and election material. Payments for requisitioned vehicles, including hiring charges and fuel, must follow the rates and standards approved by the commission.
Similar financial controls have been prescribed for videography, refreshments, tents, barricading, lighting and microphone arrangements. Travel allowances and daily allowances for polling and counting personnel, magistrates, police personnel and reserve staff must be paid according to the prescribed norms. As far as possible, these payments are to be transferred directly into the bank accounts of the personnel concerned.
The commission has also clarified that personnel who voluntarily have their election duty cancelled will not be eligible for travel or daily allowances for training days. At polling stations, drinking water is to be arranged only when an alternative source is unavailable. Lump-sum payments to polling parties must also remain within the rates prescribed by the commission.
The directions place responsibility for financial discipline on district election officers. Any loss to the state exchequer caused by the incorrect interpretation of financial rules or election instructions will be their responsibility, according to the commission’s directions.
All election-related liabilities must be settled within one month of completion of the polls. Districts have been asked to submit monthly, head-wise expenditure statements to the State Election Commission, creating a reporting trail for spending across the election process.
