New Delhi, Apr 10: In a bid to strengthen grassroots electoral management and enhance communication strategies for upcoming elections, the Election Commission of India (ECI) Thursday launched two key training programmes at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM), here.
A two-day National Training Programme began for election functionaries from West Bengal, including 2 district election officers (DEOs), 12 electoral registration officers (EROs), and 217 booth level officers (BLOs).
The initiative is part of a broader training roadmap envisioned by the Commission during the chief electoral officers' conference held on March 4 this year, at IIIDEM.
The programme focuses on building capacity at the grassroots level to ensure smooth and efficient electoral processes.
Simultaneously, the ECI also concluded a one-day orientation programme for media nodal officers, social media nodal officers, and district public relations officers from 28 states and 8 union territories.
The training aimed to bolster coordination, ensure timely information dissemination, and effectively counter misinformation in the fast-evolving media landscape.
The programme covered strategies aligned with the legal provisions under the Representation of the People Act, 1950 and 1951, the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960, and the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, as well as the Commission’s guidelines issued from time to time.
Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar addressed the media officers, underscoring the vital role of the media as a key stakeholder in the democratic process. He stressed the need for factual, transparent, and timely communication to maintain public trust in the electoral system, especially in today’s digital age.
“Media officers must be proactive in disseminating accurate information. It is imperative that voters are correctly informed and equipped to distinguish facts from misinformation,” the CEC said, highlighting the need for a robust and responsible communication framework.
