Port Blair, Apr 07: The third & final round training for the Presiding Officers and Polling Assistants of Ferrargunj Tehsil was held in the auditorium of DBRAIT here yesterday. Addressing the poll officials, the Returning Officer, A&N Islands Parliamentary Constituency, Mr. Udit Prakash Rai said this training marks the end of the training programme for the poll officials who would be manning the Polling Stations on the day of polling on April 11, 2019. Total three rounds of trainings were organised for the poll officials of both Ferrargunj and Port Blair Tehsils during which training on procedures for smooth conduct of polling was imparted elaborately.
The RO said, EVMs will be kept in the DBRAIT auditorium as well as in the District Office South Andaman on April 7, 8 and 9 so that the officials can come and get hands on training to gain confidence to handle EVMs on the day of polling. He said polling material and EVMs will be distributed to the teams of Presiding and Polling Officers from 9 AM onwards from Netaji Stadium on April 10. All the polling teams including Presiding Officers of Ferrargunj Tehsil should reach Netaji Stadium sharp at 9AM without fail to receive the polling kit and EVMs. The materials will be given to the Polling parties of Port Blair Tehsil from the same venue thereafter. He directed the Presiding Officers of Ferrargunj Tehsil to intimate their respective team members to be present at the venue on the above mentioned date & time where they will be intimated about their Polling Stations, Sector Officer and Sector Police Officer. Absence of team members will be viewed as dereliction of Election Duty and action deemed fit will be taken against that official. Soon after receiving the Polling materials, the Polling parties, sector officer, police sector officer, ECIL engineer along with police personnel will proceed to their allotted Polling Stations for which conveyance facility (Bus) has been made available from Netaji Stadium, the RO added.
The EVMs meant for the Southern Group of Islands and North & Middle Andaman District have already been dispatched by ship and kept in the identified/designated Strong Rooms. The EVMs meant for Ferrargunj Tehsil & Port Blair Tehsil have also been prepared, ballot papers have been inserted and EVMs have been sealed. The ECIL Engineers assigned duties in Southern Group of Islands and N&M Andaman District have already reached at their respective places of duty while the remaining engineers will move with the polling parties of Ferrargunj & Port Blair Tehsils on April 10, 2019. Jawaharlal Nehru Rajkeeya Mahavidyalaya (JNRM) has been designated as the Collection Centre to receive polled EVMs. Special arrangements have been made to receive the Polled EVMs which will be kept in the designated Strong Room at JNRM. The road leading to JNRM will be closed from all corners on April 11. Vehicular traffic will be diverted and only vehicles coming with polled EVMs will be allowed to proceed to JNRM on April 11.
He requested all the polling officials to collect their EDC certificates without fail as without EDC they will not be able to vote. “It should be our collective responsibility to participate in this election and exercise our franchise”, he said. The RO’s Office will provide EDC to all Polling officials till April 10 who have filled 12A form so that they can vote and participate in this democratic process while on duty without any hindrance.
The RO said that the officials from both Ferrargunj and Port Blair Tehsils have participated in all the three rounds of training enthusiastically and interacted with master trainers to get their doubts clarified. The polling officials should not feel that they are alone. The entire election machinery, especially the Sector officers are with them to sort out any problem on the polling day. “I have full confidence on the entire team of polling officials that they will execute their duties with utmost responsibility and sincerity for the conduct of free, fair and transparent election in A&N Islands which goes to polls in the first phase on April 11, 2019”, the RO added.
The State Level Master Trainer, Mr. Mukesh Rajora briefed the participants on the use of EVMs, VVPAT and sensitized them about the procedures to be completed before the start of the actual polling.
Later, the Sector Officers interacted with Presiding Officers and Polling Assistants in small groups in different classrooms of DBRAIT and enlightened the polling officials about the laid down procedures to be followed to conduct the poll on April 11, 2019. This was followed by a hands-on-training on the use of EVMs and VVPAT.
