Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 10 April 2024
In preparation for the upcoming General Elections-2024, the final round of training for Presiding Officers and Polling Officers was successfully organised at the Dr. B. R Ambedkar Institute of Technology (DBRAIT) auditorium on April 9th, 2024. The training session, aimed at ensuring a smooth, fair, and transparent electoral process, was attended by officials engaged in election duties for the Port Blair Tehsil. The event was graced by the presence of Returning Officer, Mr. Arjun Sharma, IAS, and other dignitaries associated with election training.
Addressing the attendees, Returning Officer Arjun Sharma emphasised the critical role and responsibilities of Presiding Officers and their teams stationed at polling booths during the elections scheduled for April 19, 2024. He underscored the importance of meticulous adherence to prescribed procedures to ensure the integrity of the electoral process. Sharma expressed confidence in the preparedness of the officials and urged them to discharge their duties with utmost sincerity and diligence.
Sharma reiterated the necessity for the commencement of Mock Polls at all polling stations from 5:30 am on election day. He informed that regular updates on polling will be collected by the Office of the Returning Officer every two hours. He emphasized the careful handling of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines, urging immediate reporting of any malfunctions for prompt rectification.
Furthermore, Sharma highlighted the availability of additional training for those wishing to enhance their proficiency with EVMs, encouraging officials to utilize the ‘EVM Demonstration Centre’ at the District Office. He informed that Master Trainers at District Office can be contacted for additional training. He stressed the significance of the electoral process in fostering a healthy democracy and called upon all officials to work collaboratively and responsibly towards ensuring a free, fair, and transparent election in the Andaman Nicobar Islands Parliamentary Constituency (ANIPC).
The training session commenced with insights shared by resource person Mr. Som Naidu, DANICS (Retd.), who provided detailed guidance on adhering to prescribed election procedures and addressed queries regarding postal ballots, test votes, and challenged votes. Subsequently, attendees participated in hands-on training sessions facilitated by Master Trainers, focusing on the operation of EVMs and VVPAT machines.