New Delhi: With the aim of conducting free, fair, peaceful and inclusive elections in the country, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has brought together delegates from Election Management Bodies (EMBs) of SAARC Countries. The officials are here for training at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM). The course is being sponsored by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.
The course commenced on December 5th, 2016 at the Election Commission of India’s training wing and will continue until December 15th, 2016. The 11 day course encapsulates several sessions on principles and practices for election management.
Mr. A. K. Joti – Election Commissioner of India and senior officials from the ECI welcomed participants from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Maldives, Bhutan and Afghanistan on Monday.
In his welcome address Mr. A. K. Joti affirmed, “For any nation to revolutionize its election scenario, it is important to accept change and evolve.” He also spoke about growing technological advancements in Indian Elections as the leading reason behind successful elections across India.
During the program, the 28 participants from SAARC countries will share their experiences on election situation in their respective countries. Additionally, the program aims to train officials on various aspects of election management like capacity building of stakeholders, code of conduct, voter inclusion and registration et al.
Following the welcome address, participatory sessions on ‘Free, Fair Elections and International Standards,’ ‘Electoral Systems and Practices’, ‘Principles of Voter Registration and Type of Voter Registers’ to name a few, have already been conducted, with many more lined up for the coming days.
The participants have unanimously agreed on the continuous need for exchange of experiences and expertise between the SAARC Electoral Bodies for improved election management. Leadership training sessions and a field visit to voter registration centre has also been planned for the program. The course ends on December 15th, 2016 with a valedictory address.
8 comments