Port Blair, May 24: The third round of training to Counting Supervisors, Micro Observers, Counting Assistants and Counting Staff engaged to assist the Returning Officer, A & N Islands Parliamentary Constituency in counting of votes for General Election-2024, was held in the DBRAIT auditorium here today. The Counting will take place in JNRM Counting Centre, earmarked for Counting of Votes for the A & N Islands Parliamentary Constituency on June 4, 2024. The Returning Officer, ANIPC, Shri Arjun Sharma, IAS visited DBRAIT auditorium and interacted with the Counting Personnel.
Addressing the officials/staff engaged in Counting, the RO urged them to go through the PPT prepared for Counting thoroughly, which will not only develop confidence among them but will also help them to carry out counting smoothly, flawlessly following the guidelines of ECI. He said, counting officials must execute their work with utmost sincerity and responsibility so that the counting of votes is completed in a transparent manner in ANIPC.
The RO further said that ‘Postal Ballot Papers’ will be counted first and thereafter the counting of EVMs will be taken up at 8.30 am at JNRM on June 4, 2024 in two counting halls. Altogether, 28 counting tables will be set up and each counting hall will have 14 tables. These tables will be manned by Counting Supervisor, Micro Observer, Counting Assistant and Counting Staff and Counting will be completed in 15 rounds. He said, all the persons engaged in Counting must reach the Counting Centre JNRM before 5 am on June 4, 2024 as Counting Teams & Tables will be allotted after randomization at 5 am.
The Resource Person, Shri Som Naidu, DANICS Retd while addressing the trainees, apprised them about their important roles & responsibilities during the counting of votes. The team of Master trainers led by Shri M. Papa Rao, assisted by Dr. A. Abraham imparted training to the counting personnel on handling the polled EVMs especially Control Unit and VVPAT machines on the counting day. A demo of the counting of votes and a presentation on the subject was also given. The trainees also engaged themselves on hands on training for the Counting. It was informed that the next round of training to the officials engaged in Counting will be held at the same venue on 29-05-2024.