The Tenth Lok Sabha Elections in 1991 heralded for the first time the large-scale use of computers and satellite-based speedy reporting system which enables the citizens to view immediate round-by-round results from each constituency. Such a reporting system was developed by the National Informatics Centre for the Tenth Lok Sabha Elections. The solution was to couple the television network as an output channel for NICNET, thus combining the information collecting power with the nation-wide broadcasting capability of Doordarshan. The coupled networks achieved a tremendous throughput of public information that sustained public interest in, and monitoring of, the results counting process. But being the first introductory effort of its kind in India, the system of 1991 had certain drawbacks. Basic information enumerating the candidates name and party affiliations was sent in over NICMAIL, and had to be typed in again at Headquarters. Besides this information also had lot of spelling errors and wrong party assignments. Rectifying this was a very time consuming and hectic process.
THE ENHANCED SYSTEM The flaws were overcome through sustained efforts. An error-free system of collecting varied information related to candidates was developed. Collection of candidates name in a systematic manner along with party affiliations and official serial number was done through an automated form named LSCAND-96. The work load was reduced to a large extent as no spelling errors and wrong party allocations were detected. One was also saved from the drudgery of re-typing the list of candidates again at the Headquarters. There was a big difference in speed also. While in the 1991 elections data was fed to NDTV through a single communication outline, this time round NDTV had four NIC output lines catering to its need for information. This speeded up things to a great extent. Earlier, NICNET connectivity was made available only to Doordarshan and PIB, but in the 1996 elections the connectivity was extended to All India Radio also, for the benefit of the common man.
FROM THE STATES All the State Units of NIC participated with great zeal and enthusiasm in providing necessary and authentic information to facilitate timely and correct announcement of the Eleventh Lok Sabha election results across the Country. Fully utilizing the ELECON package facility, the NIC Jamshedpur District Centre successfully carried out the task of data entry, processing and party details. Data giving details of personnel on deputation was prepared and checklisted. A software was also generated for cross checking the different categories of personnel. Besides preparing the code list issued to state development officers indicating call numbers printed on the call letter and their respective booth names, place of reporting and constituency number; the number of vehicles required for movement from various blocks to the place of reporting for collection of polling material was also estimated and final appointment orders issued through the computers. Computer systems were used for various printing jobs such as printing of pre-appointment letters/call letters with call ID numbers suppressing the constituency and booth numbers and mentioning the date of reporting to the material collection cell. The same were then sent to all the computer networks in a wide variety of electronic related work including results processing. By the year 1996, time for the Eleventh Lok Sabha Elections, the computer culture had established a firm footage. In the 1996 elections an enhanced computer system not only provided faster communication but also had an element of excitement in the form of the much-talked-about Exit Polls. The Indian Government is a government "of the people, by the people and for the people". In a democratic set-up like ours credibility is a vital factor and depends largely on the fairness of both the vote-casting and vote-counting processes. And this calls for an effective, efficient and presiding officers, polling officers of all categories, magistrates, counting supervisors, counting assistants and personnel assisting the Area Returning Officer. Final appointment orders according to the formats of the Election Commission, along with route charts were printed. TA forms and contingency forms for payment of TA to polling and patrolling parties were also printed. List of voting percentage figures at different booths, compiled reports of results was transmitted through NICNET to New Delhi. Form no-21 for results declaration was generated. In Assam also, the State Unit provided MIS support to the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) during pre-election, and post-election phases. MIS support played a vital role during counting. The processed results were then made available on-line at the Media Centre in the Directorate of Information & Public Relations (DIRP) through a dial-up line. Almost all District Units in the State had provided some amount of MIS-support to the District Administration. The common services included building up and use of databases on polling stations; data containing details of candidates, polling personnel, counting personnel, was compiled and statutory reports for returning officers were also generated. At the NIC Tamilnadu State Unit, NICNET connectivity was given to the Election Department of Government of Tamilnadu from the VSATPAD port of NIC Secretariat Centre. Messages were sent and received directly by the Election Department using this facility. Details of nominations filed were received in formatted form and the required report was generated. Computing facilities were also provided at the Election department during the counting process. For the first time, round-wise details were collected from all the counting centres for both Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies. The NIC Uttar Pradesh State Unit, besides providing detailed election result reports and detailed analytical reports to the CEO within 5 days of the declaration of election results also developed a software for the Home Secretary, to produce daily law and order data from all the districts of UP through NICNET. The UP State Unit generated daily consolidated reports and handed them to the Home Secretary. The NIC, Bellary District Centre, took up the challenging job of computerizing the tabulation work for counting of votes. Data of the latest information was fed into the computer table-wise, round-wise and the same was used as a supporting aid for tabulation. All this information was made available to the Returning Officer, Police and District Information and Publicity Officer. After every ten minutes the information was updated. NIC, Bellary was the only source for the officer to get the latest information on candidates position, round position, and status of counting. This helped the Returning Officer to keep a check on any kind of delay, invalid votes, counting agents problem, mismatch in ballot account etc. Like the NIC, State Units the NIC District Centres did not lack behind in any aspect in giving their contribution to the Nation in the 1996 Lok Sabha Election. They worked with complete earnestness and sincerity to meet with the information need from their end, during the elections. They were fully active in preparing for the elections, during the election and even in the result declaration process.
EXCITEMENT OF EXIT POLLS India's first ever exit polls got underway with support from NIC's NICNET system. Every seventh voter emerging from the polling booths was asked to vote again on special ballots carrying symbols. Thus giving a general idea of the trend of voting even before the results were declared. A special software was also developed to receive and transmit the data which is electrically encoded for secrecy. NICNET provided its national information highway to avoid chances of a bottleneck situation. The data collected on two pages was rushed to NICNET centres where highly skilled operators would key in the coded data for dumping it into floppies for cold storage till the time they were needed for use. The resultant speed enhanced the credibility factor. For the 1996 elections speed and flexibility have been enhanced greatly by the 900 very small aperture terminals (VSAT) spread across the Country and linked to each other by satellite. In the Eleventh Lok Sabha Elections speed and accuracy was the key word and computers proved to be the best modern technologies to set the pace.
(For further information please contact MR S Sarkar, Senior Technical Director, Teleinformatics Development Promotion Project, National Informatics Centre, A-Block, CGO Complex, Lodi Road, New Delhi - 110003.)