Lok Sabha Polls 2019: Election training going on in full swing at Cachar

March 14: Even before the Election Commission of India (ECI) notified the schedule of 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Cachar district administration was geared up and was doing their homework in order to ensure a hassle-free poll. Emphasis was laid on imparting training to the poll personnel of various categories. ECI too has already completed training the State Level Master Trainers (SLMT) in February. However, with the declaration of poll schedule, the aspect of training has caught momentum.

On Wednesday, a fresh group of Assembly Level Master Trainers (ALTs) were imparted training at the DRDA Conference Hall at Silchar. This new group mainly comprised of the college and university teachers. They were imparted training in poll process and also on EVM/VVPAT.

The training was imparted by Sudeep Nath, ACS, Election Officer, Rasaraj Das, Dy.CEO, Cachar Zilla Parishad, Sudarshan Gupta, Arunabha Bhattacharjee and Dr. Jaydeep Chakrabarty. State Level Master Trainer Sudipta Dutta Choudhury (Bapi) monitored the training session. The logistic support for the training sessions were provided by Mridul Kanti Chakraborty, Head Assistant of District Training Cell, Lok Sabha Polls, 2019.

Meanwhile, training in poll process and EVM/VVPAT was also imparted to the Sector and Zonal Officers. The training was imparted by Sudeep Nath, ACS, Election Officer, Subhendu Saha, Salil Chakraborty, Dr. Jaydeep Chakrabarty, Dr. Apratim Nag, Joydeep Paul and Sudipta Dutta Choudhury (Bapi). Election Officer Sudip Nath informed that the training of polling teams (Presiding Officers & 1st Polling Officers) will begin shortly.

In the meantime, Deputy Commissioner, Cachar Laya Madduri has also held an interactive session with all the master trainers. She has motivated them to properly impart training to the poll parties so that on the day of poll things become easy for the poll party to handle and manage. She categorically mentioned that the polling teams should be given thorough hands on training on the operational factor of EVM/VVPAT. Sudeep Nath, ACS, Election Officer and his entire team were found to perform their duties in an enthusiastic way.

The EVM training has acquired a great significance this year due to the introduction of a new machine named, Voter Verified Paper Audit Trial (VVPAT). The VVPAT is a way of giving feedback to voters using ballot-free voting system. Its purpose is to confirm the authenticity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). This arrangement reveals to the voter whether he has voted or not. VVPAT is a kind of printer connected to EVM.

The prestigious Silchar Lok Sabha seat will go for polls on 18 April this year. A total of 11,93,908 voters of Cachar district would cast their vote in 1461 polling stations to decide the fate of Silchar Lok Sabha seat. The Returning Officer of Cachar has chalked out a detailed plan in this regard. On 16 April, 2019 polling materials will be distributed at Jhapirbandh NATRIP in Udharbond for Sonai, Dholai,akhipur & Katigorah constituencies. On 17 April, poll materials from the same place will be distributed at 8 AM for Silchar, Udharbond and Borkhola constituencies.