Port Blair, March 24: As part of the preparations for the General Elections -2024, the Election Department, A&N Islands is organising series of training programmes for the personnel engaged in Election Duty. In this connection, the Second Round training for personnel engaged in Election duty for Port Blair Tehsil was organised today at the DBRAIT auditorium. The Returning Officer, ANIPC, Shri Arjun Sharma IAS, visited the training centre at DBRAIT Auditorium.
Addressing the trainees, the Returning Officer reiterated that all personnel engaged in election duty irrespective of their assigned duties have to play a vital role in the smooth conduct of polling on the day of poll. The RO said Presiding Officers are responsible for conduct of voting in their Polling Station and must have a good knowledge of the voting procedures. As a Presiding Officer they shoulder the responsibility for complying with all instructions of ECI and ensuring the integrity and secrecy of the voting. The RO said, the officials manning the Polling Booth have to complete all the election procedures step by step before the start of the Polling on the Poll day.
The Returning Officer further stated that polling kits and EVMs will be issued to the Polling Teams from Netaji Stadium one day prior to the Poll Day and they have to check whether all the items are available inside the kit before they leave for their respective Polling Stations. He said, the polling officials including Presiding Officers should understand the importance of Polling Kit and they should re-check all the items in Polling Kit and the functioning of EVM before leaving to their assigned Polling Booths. He urged the Polling Officials to take extra time in ensuring/checking that all the required items for the starting of Polling is available with them as per the check list before they leave from the EVM Collection Centre i.e. Netaji Stadium, so that there is no confusion/hiccup in starting the voting on the day of polling i.e. April, 19, 2024.
He said it is very important for the officials engaged in Election Duty to set up their respective polling booth in a proper manner arranging the furniture besides taking extra care for setting VVPAT machine avoiding direct sunlight/light on the VVPAT machine for the smooth conduct of the Election on the poll day. He said mock polls have to be started by 5.30 am on the Polling Day without fail in the presence of the contesting candidate/agent to the extent possible. He further urged the Presiding Officers to fill the requisite forms which is very essential and important while closing the Polling and handing over the EVMs at the collection Centre at JNRM after polling.
Initiating the training, the Resource person, Shri Som Naidu, DANICS (Retd.), through a power point presentation briefed about the roles and responsibilities of the Presiding Officers and the other officials engaged in Election Duty pertaining to conduct of elections in the UTs. He stated that Presiding Officer is the main person from the Commission point of view during the election, particularly on the day of polling for the smooth conduct of voting. As per the election manual, Presiding Officer is the key officer at their respective polling booths where he/she has to oversee the entire arrangement inside the booth. Shri Som Naidu further stated that the polling should start in all the polling booths sharp at 7 am without fail for which all the Polling Officials have to be in their respective booths early so as to complete all the formalities including mock polls for the smooth start of the voting on the day of poll.
Later, Dr. A Abraham through a power point presentation enlightened the participants about the election procedures with special emphasis to preparation of EVMs, mock polls, closing of polls etc.
A hands on training on EVM and VVPAT machine was carried out by the Master Trainers. The Presiding Officers and other polling personnel witnessed the demonstration of EVM & VVPAT and also engaged themselves on hands on training for better familiarization with it.