By Our Staff Reporter
Dehradun, 6 Jan: A training programme was conducted for presiding officers nominated for the upcoming Municipal Elections in two shifts at the Himalaya Auditorium, Nimbuwala, here, today. District Magistrate/ District Election Officer Savin Bansal and SSP Ajai Singh as well as the Chief Development Officer (CDO) Abhinav Shah led the training programme.
Addressing the personnel, District Election Officer (DEO) Savin Bansal emphasised the pivotal role of polling parties, describing them as frontline warriors of elections, with presiding officers acting as their leaders. He reminded that months of preparation go into ensuring smooth operations during the three critical phases of elections, namely the deployment, voting, and counting. Bansal advised the participants to carefully absorb the training material and focus on key aspects to ensure a seamless electoral process. Urging vigilance, confidence, and transparency in their responsibilities, Bansal reassured personnel of the administration’s full support, including a dedicated control room and a team of nodal officers and trainers to address any issues that may arise.
Senior Superintendent of Police Ajai Singh underscored the importance of the presiding officers’ role in maintaining impartiality and transparency during the elections. Stressing that election duty holds precedence over all other assignments, he cautioned the participants against any lapses, stating that the police are fully prepared to respond promptly to any issues. He assured the personnel that any security concerns arising during the election would be addressed within a few minutes of reporting.
CDO and Deputy Election Officer Abhinav Shah called the presiding officers the backbone of the electoral process, emphasising that their performance directly impacts its success. He urged them to pay close attention during training, address any doubts immediately, and ensure flawless execution on election day, as there is no room for errors.
A total of 1,550 personnel attended today’s training programme, while 59 were marked absent.
Gopal Ram Binwal, Nodal Officer for Ballots and Deputy Municipal Commissioner, provided specialised training on ballot procedures to the participants. Additionally, master trainers, including Vikram Singh (Director, Rural Development Agency), Dr Mohan Bisht, Girish Thapliyal, and Kapil Pandey also conducted comprehensive sessions for the personnel.
