1,316 officials attend training for poll

As many as 1,316 officials from various government departments were provided preliminary training to facilitate smooth and fair polling for 10 zones of zila parishad and 45 zones of Malerkotla, Amargarh and Ahmedgarh Block Samitis.

Of the 1,436 personnel assigned to election duty on December 14, 120 failed to report for the first rehearsal on Sunday. Those present received expert training in the polling process at the rehearsal programmes held at MGMN Senior Secondary School, Ahmedgarh, Government College, Ahmedgarh, and Government College, Malerkotla. Besides conducting theory sessions, the organisers, supervised by returning officers, had installed stalls to demonstrate polling at ballot boxes since the election will be conducted using separate ballot papers for the Zila Parishad and Block Samiti.

The organisers reported that the performance of most officials was satisfactory. The district administration has already cautioned personnel against ignoring the assistant election officers’ instructions. Returning officers at the three subdivisions claimed to have made extra arrangements to prevent inconveniences caused by officials on election duty. “We have already advised the officials concerned to ensure that standard civic amenities are available at all polling stations and booths,” said Gurmit Bansal, SDM, Malerkotla.