In order to identify target beneficiaries for COVID-19 vaccination campaign at the polling station level, the Election Commission has given nod to extend ‘full assistance’ to the Government of India but will want healthcare professionals to remove the voters’ data once the immunization campaign is over, the Economic Times reported on Friday.
Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora on December 31 last year seeking assistance from the panel to recognize citizens over 50 years of age at the polling station level. This is in accordance with the plans of the government of providing vaccination to healthcare and frontline staff, followed by all those over 50 and under 50 who have chronic conditions.
The home secretary commented on the topic of data protection that the government is complying with the existing best practices to ensure cybersecurity and told the polling panel that the data would be used exclusively for vaccination purposes, the sources said.
Some senior EC officials will be in communication with the nodal officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Health in order to address daily issues. Officials from the Union Ministry of Health and Niti Aayog interacted last month with the EC top brass to ask for their assistance in administering the COVID-19 vaccination, considering the extensive network of polling stations at booth level.
