Bihar Assembly Elections: Amid heightened political tensions ahead of the Bihar Assembly elections, the Election Commission of India (EC) has announced a significant increase in the remuneration and allowances for polling and counting staff, security forces, and other officials deployed during the election process. The decision follows Opposition uproar over the Special Investigation Report (SIR) in Bihar and alleged electoral fraud in Karnataka.
Revised remuneration for polling and counting staff
Presiding Officers, Polling Officers, Counting Supervisors, Counting Assistants, Micro Observers and Class-IV employees will all benefit from higher daily rates or lump-sum payments.
Now, Presiding Officers and Counting Supervisors will now receive Rs 500 per day or a Rs 2,000 lump sum, up from Rs 350 per day. Polling Officers’ pay has risen from Rs 250 to Rs 400 per day (or Rs 1,600 lump sum), while Counting Assistants will now get Rs 450 per day or Rs 1,350 lump sum.
Class-IV staff engaged in polling or counting duties will receive Rs 350 per day or 1,400 lump sum, compared to the earlier Rs 200 daily rate. Those manning call centres or control rooms will get a flat Rs 1,000 lump sum.
Specialised teams such as Video Surveillance, Accounting, Flying Squads and Expenditure Monitoring Cells have also seen a substantial jump with Class-I/II staff now earning Rs 3,000 lump sum and Class-III staff Rs 2,000. Micro Observers’ remuneration has doubled from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000 lump sum.
Food and refreshment allowance
The EC has also increased the daily food and refreshment allowance for personnel on election duty, including police, home guards, forest guards, ex-servicemen, and volunteers. The rate has risen more than threefold from Rs 150 to Rs 500 per day.
Deputy District Election Officers (Dy. DEOs), previously not entitled to an honorarium, will now receive not less than one month’s basic pay.
Gazetted officers of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), such as Commandants and Medical Officers, will now get Rs 4,000 for duties up to 15 days and Rs 2,000 per week thereafter. Subordinate CAPF officers’ pay has increased to Rs 3,000 for up to 15 days and Rs 1,500 per week thereafter.
Other CAPF ranks will now receive Rs 2,500 for duties up to 15 days and Rs 1,250 per week thereafter. Assistant Expenditure Observers, Sector Officers and Sector Police Officers will receive Rs 10,000 for full-time duty, up from Rs 7,500.