In preparation for the upcoming General Elections to the Legislative Assembly, UT of J&K, comprehensive training programs were successfully conducted for polling staff across all five Assembly Constituencies (ACs) of Rajouri district, today. The training sessions were held at different venues, including Government Degree College (GDC) Kalakote for AC-83 Kalakote-Sunderbani, GDC Nowshera for AC-84 Nowshera, Post Graduate College Rajouri for AC-85 Rajouri (ST), Dak Bungalow Koteranka for AC-86 Budhal (ST) and PG College Rajouri for AC-87 Thanamandi (ST).
Held under the supervision of District Election Officer, Abhishek Sharma, the training programs focused on equipping polling personnel with the necessary skills and knowledge for the efficient management of the election process. The training sessions were addressed by senior officials, including the General Observers and Returning Officers (ROs) of the respective constituencies.
They interacted with the trainees to ensure that all polling personnel understood their roles and responsibilities thoroughly. At AC-84 Nowshera, training was facilitated by the District Election Officer Rajouri, General Observer, and RO Nowshera, while the General Observer and RO Kalakote addressed trainees at GDC Kalakote for AC-83 Kalakote-Sunderbani. Similarly, at PG College Rajouri, the General Observer and RO Rajouri conducted the training for AC-85 Rajouri (ST).
The training for AC-86 Budhal (ST) was held at Dak Bungalow Koteranka, and for AC-87 Thanamandi (ST) at PG College Rajouri, where the General Observer and RO Thanamandi engaged with the polling staff. The training programs were coordinated by Dr. Naseem Ahmed, Associate Professor and Nodal Officer for Election Training, and facilitated by dedicated teams of District Level Master Trainers (DLMTs) and Assembly Level Master Trainers (ALMTs).
The teams provided detailed presentations and hands-on practice sessions, particularly focused on the operation of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs). Polling officers, designated as PO, P1, P2 and P3 were briefed on the election process and their critical roles in ensuring the smooth conduct of elections.
They were also trained on maintaining the secrecy, transparency, and integrity of the electoral process, which is essential to uphold public trust. Training Teams and Participation included DLMTs/ALMTs of all five assembly constituencies.
The comprehensive training programs ensure that all personnel are well-prepared to conduct the elections smoothly and efficiently.