Peerzada Sayeed
Kupwara, March 28: Ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections, series of training sessions were conducted today at designated places of different assembly segments of Kupwara district, in order to educate the Supervisors and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) about various aspects of electoral process and proficient handling of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machines.
During the training, BLOs were emphasized to update the voter lists and make them healthy and error free besides it was stressed that Youth, women, senior citizens especially with the age of 80 plus, PwDs (Persons with disabilities), transgender and other vulnerable sections of the society are not left out.
On the occasion, practical demonstration was given to the participant trainees regarding the functioning of EVMs and VVPAT machines to boost their understanding and proficiency in managing the voting process.
At Town hall Handwara, the Training session was conducted under the supervision of Assistant Returning Officer (ARO), assembly segment 5-Handwara, Aziz Ahmad Rather to train the Supervisors and Booth Level Officers about the various aspects of electoral process especially making voter lists healthy and efficient operation of EVMs and VVPAT machines in the upcoming elections. The training was conducted by District Level Master Trainer DLMTs who provided full guidance to participants on various facets of the electoral process and operations of EVM/VVPAT.
Speaking at the occasion, the ARO highlighted the importance of election training to the BLOs. He said training enables the officials to understand the election system, learn handling and operation of EVMs to ensure an error-free election process.
Emphasis was placed on the importance of active participation and adherence to the guidelines outlined by the Election commission of India to ensure smooth and transparent conduct of the elections. ARO Handwara also stressed to ensure AMFs at every polling station, PWD voters flagging in mother Rolls, Migrant Voters registration and strategy for their voting, provisions for absentees voters. Tehsildars of Handwara, Ramhall, Vilgam and Zachaldara also attended the training programme.
Similar training was imparted to Supervisors and BLOs of assembly segment 4-Lolab at Degree College Sogam where Supervisors and BLOs were directed to make health voter lists, more over hands on training about operation of EVMS and VVPATs was also imparted.
Training to BLOs of Assembly Segment 6-Langate was imparted at ITI Handwara.
Meanwhile, Special Nodal Officer Elections, Sameer Jan, has directed all BLOs of the district to form whatsApp groups for all employees residing in their respective polling station areas for the purpose of alternate channel of communication for their election duty and filling of form 12(A).
