For smooth conduct of the upcoming general elections in the State, a two-day training-cum-test programme for all district Collectors began at the Gopabandhu Academy of Administration here on Monday.
The programme, called Certification Course, is being held as per the direction of the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The Collectors, who are also District Election Officers (DEOs) and Returning Officers (ROs), would be given elaborate training on election matters and the put to test each day as per the ECI guidelines.
All the DEOs and ROs of all the 21 Parliamentary Constituencies have attended the Certification Course, said sources.
On the first day, the officers were provided training on role and responsibility as DEO and ROs, electoral roll updation, polling station arrangements, vulnerability mapping, deployment of security forces, scrutiny, withdrawal, model code of conduct and election spending monitoring, etc and put to test at the end of training.
On second day i.e. on Tuesday, they officers would undergo training on Electronic Voting Machine (EVM), VVPAT and management of Media vis-Ã -vis publication of fake and paid news during the election process.
The programme has been planned to ensure a transparent procedure for conducting elections with IT applications. Putting DEOs and ROs on test is a new model adopted by the ECI, said an officer.
The programme is being held under the direct guidance of the State Electoral Officer Surendra Kumar, he said.