In a landmark achievement aimed at strengthening grassroots democracy the Election Commission of India (ECI) has successfully trained over 2300 field level election functionaries at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) Delhi. The latest training initiative includes a special mixed-batch programme for election personnel from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry conducted in Tamil a pioneering step by the Commission.
A total of 293 officials comprising 264 Booth Level Officer (BLO) Supervisors 14 Electoral Registration Officers 2 District Election Officers (DEOs) and other field staff are undergoing an intensive 2day training programme designed to equip them with advanced skills in electoral processes and digital tools.
Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar in his inaugural address underscored the pivotal role of BLOs as the first point of contact between voters and the Election Commission.Accurate and updated electoral rolls are the foundation of any credible election BLOs are our frontline ambassadors of democracy he stated.
The training module integrates interactive sessions practical role plays and hands-on exposure to IT applications to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of field operations. Special emphasis is being placed on the correct handling of Forms 6 7 and 8 which are critical to voter registration and electoral roll maintenance.
Additionally participants are being prepared as Assembly Level Master Trainers to further cascade the knowledge and practices to thousands of BLOs across the nation a part of ECI’s ambitious plan to train over 1 lakh BLOs in the coming years.
Officials were also made aware of the legal redressal mechanisms for electoral roll grievances including the right to file appeals before the District Magistrate under Section 24(a) and the Chief Electoral Officer under Section 24(b) of the Representation of the People Act 1950.
Notably Tamil Nadu and Puducherry reported zero appeals post the Special Summary Revision (SSR) held from January 6th to 10th 2025 a testament to the accuracy and effectiveness of the ongoing electoral processes.
The initiative reflects the Election Commission evolving strategy of inclusive technology enabled and regionally sensitive capacity building to uphold the integrity of Indian elections.(PR)