Remuneration of polling officials raised

The Election Commission has hiked the remuneration of polling personnel for the coming Lok Sabha election.

"There has been a substantial hike. The honorarium for presiding officers has been increased to Rs.1,900 (including Rs.300 as contingency fee) from Rs.1,400," assistant chief electoral officer Amitjyoti Bhattacharji told reporters here.

The fee for other polling officers has been hiked from Rs.800 to Rs.1,150, he said.

Moreover, the EC is planning to replicate a model welfare kit for poll officers designed by the district election officer of North Dinajpur.

"The kit contains a bed-roll and is portable. It also carries a logo of the EC. We will try to replicate it in other districts," he said.