Preps underway for smooth conduct of assembly polls
Source: Chronicle News Service / DIPR
Imphal, January 19 2022:
Training programmes for polling personnel who will be engaged in duty for the upcoming state assembly elections were held on Wednesday in Churachandpur, Pherzawl, Bishnupur, Noney and Tamenglong districts.
According to a release by DIO of Bishnupur, the first round of training for 300 officials appointed as presiding officers and polling officers including women officials began at CI College, Bishnupur.
The polling personnel were capacitated on theoretical aspects, handling of EVMs, Booth Apps, IT Apps and Communications.
The trainees also underwent mock polls for better familiarisation.
During the course of the phase-wise training which will continue till January 22, 300 polling personnel will undergo training each day under Assembly Level Master Trainers, EVM Master Trainers and DIO (NIC) .
District election officer, Bishnupur L Bikram accompanied by ADC/MCC nodal officer Bishnupur H Bobby Sharma and CEO ZP/district nodal officer (Training) RK Dayananda inspected the training.
Interacting with the trainees, the DEO encouraged them to be well prepared for efficient execution of poll duties.
He also remarked that disciplinary action will be initiated against any polling official found neglecting the assigned duty.
The DEO also informed that necessary precautionary measures like thermal screening and hand sanitisation will be mandatory for everyone on the polling day.
Responding to a query on duty exemption on ground of not being fully vaccinated, the DEO urged every polling official to get fully vaccinated at the earliest.
Mention may be made that all six assembly constituencies of Bishnupur with a combined strength of 1,81,715 electors will cast their votes in the first phase on February 27 in 236 polling stations.
Earlier, the DEO Bishnupur had notified for submission of request for exemption along with medical certificates and diagnosis details latest by January 22 for consideration by Medical Board.
It further notified that medical examination for exemption from election duty on medical grounds for presiding officers and polling officers will be held on January 24 at District Hospital, Bishnupur from 11 AM onwards.
On other hand, the first round of the training for Tamenglong and Noney districts also began on Wednesday.
The training programme which will continue till January 22 was held at Tamenglong Headquarters Multi-purpose Hall, Mini Stadium, Indoor stadium, Apollo Bazar and Badminton Court, DC Bungalow.
The training session includes audio-visual demonstration on the duties of the polling personnel and hands-on training on use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) .
The training also had special focus on how to use the Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (WPAT) -that will be used in all the polling booths.
Altogether 223 male presiding officers, 51 female presiding officers, 679 male polling officers and 153 female polling officers were listed for the three-day training programme.
Mention may be made here that three Assembly Segments (52-Tamei/Tousem AC, 53-Tamenglong AC and 54-Nungba AC) within Tamenglong and Noney districts will go to the polls in the first phase on February 27, which falls on Sunday.
The total number of electors in these three ACs is 1,03,433, with male electors numbering 50,270 .
The total number of polling stations in the two districts is 209 .
DEO Tamenglong also constituted District Medical Board to examine applications for exemption from election duty on medical ground.
Valid voter ID card and vaccination certificate were also checked before entering the programme and those polling personnel who are yet to get second dose were also vaccinated by the Medical department present during the training session.
The training was conducted under the strict guidelines of the COVID19 issued by the government.
Meanwhile it is also informed that the first round of randomisation of electronic voting machines (EVM) and voter verified paper audit trials (WPAT) for Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts was held on Wednesday in the presence of additional district election officer Yumnam Nelson and representatives from various political parties.
About 519 control units, 519 ballot units and 558 WPATs were randomised in the strong box located at Old DCs Office, Tuibong.
On completion of the first round of randomisation, the EVMs and WPATs will be assigned/allocated among the six constituencies in Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts.
The first round of training for polling personnel which started yesterday, continued at Churachandpur Government College wherein about 345 polling officers were trained by the master trainers.
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