Pakyong, 11 April (IPR): Continuing with the series of final round training, the third day of training for Presiding and Polling Officers took place at the auditorium hall of Dikling Senior Secondary School, Pakyong today.
During the training session, Mr Pradeep Kumar IAS, General Observer for Pakyong District, highlighted the importance of active participation by Presiding and Polling Officers in ensuring free and fair elections in accordance with the guidelines of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
He encouraged officers to maintain appropriate distance during their duties and urged everyone to enjoy the festival of democracy during the state’s electoral process.
Mr Tashi Chophel, DEO cum DC Pakyong, gave a word of caution to the officers, emphasising the need for carefulness and urging participants to utilise the training to boost their confidence and performance. He stressed the importance of addressing all doubts before the commencement of polling to ensure smooth operations.
Furthermore, he instructed polling personnel to thoroughly comprehend the rules laid down by the ECI for the electoral process. He highlighted the critical aspects of the sealing process and the closing procedures for the machines on election day, advising careful execution to prevent errors.
Ms Merina Rai, Joint Secretary, Election Cell, recapped the importance of the Presiding and Polling Officers duties, emphasising the significance of their roles in the seamless conduct of the electoral process. She revisited key topics such as the handling of VVPAT/EVMs, the documentation required, and the correct setup of polling booths, ensuring all officers are well-versed and confident in their responsibilities.
Ms Tenzing Pema, District Level Master Trainer (DLMT), continued with practical demonstrations, focusing on the critical aspects of managing the voting process smoothly, including last-minute troubleshooting techniques and ensuring the accessibility of polling stations to all voters.
Further, AD IT Pakyong, Mr Supratik Sharma, alongside Mr Sital Sharma and Mr Harka Bahadur Lamichaney, provided an advanced session on the use of the Traccar App for real-time monitoring of the Presiding and Polling Officers’ movements post-dispatch of EVMs.
The training also had the presence of Ms Anupa Tamling, ADC Pakyong; Mr Thendup Lepcha SDM Rangpo; Mr Mahendra Chettri, SDM (HQ); and Mr Sandesh Subba SDM Pakyong.
