New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has initiated a significant two-day capacity-building programme at its New Delhi training facility, bringing together 379 Booth Level Officer (BLO) Supervisors from five states and union territories. This crucial groundwork is aimed at enhancing preparedness for future elections, with a notable contingent of 133 participants hailing from the Northeast – 67 from Nagaland and 66 from Meghalaya.
The training, the 13th batch of an intensive nationwide initiative, is being conducted at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM). Over the past three months, the ECI has already imparted training to more than 5,000 officials across the country. This current cohort also includes 111 officers from Uttar Pradesh, 128 from Madhya Pradesh, and 7 from Chandigarh.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, who inaugurated the session, underscored the paramount importance of strict adherence to electoral laws, specifically citing the Representation of the People Acts (1950 and 1951) and associated rules. He asserted that this legal framework serves as the “most transparent instrument” in a democracy, reiterating the ECI’s commitment to conducting Indian elections in full accordance with established legal norms.
A key area of emphasis during CEC Kumar’s address was the need to improve awareness regarding the appeals process related to electoral rolls. He urged BLOs to proactively educate voters about their rights to file first and second appeals concerning voter list issues, as outlined under Section 24 of the RP Act, 1950. Interestingly, no appeals were recorded from the participating states, including Meghalaya and Nagaland, following the Special Summary Revision (SSR) conducted earlier this year from January 6 to 10.
Participants in the programme are slated to receive hands-on training covering various aspects of field-level voter registration processes, proper handling of electoral forms, and effective utilisation of digital tools in electoral work. The comprehensive sessions also include technical demonstrations of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), complete with mock poll exercises designed to simulate real-world polling scenarios.
The ECI’s concerted effort to provide high-quality training signifies its commitment to strengthening the efficiency and credibility of electoral operations nationwide. There is a growing focus on ensuring inclusion, accuracy, and transparency at the grassroots level, particularly with heightened attention on regions like the Northeast.
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