In a significant move ahead of the crucial civic elections, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has taken strict action against a large number of polling staff who failed to attend mandatory training sessions. Municipal Commissioner Shravan Hardikar has issued show-cause notices to a staggering 1,329 staff members for their unexplained absence from the compulsory programme.
Widespread Absence at Crucial Election Training
The PCMC had organized a two-day training programme at the GD Madgulkar Auditorium in Nigdi on Saturday and Sunday. This session was designed specifically for officials assigned various election-related duties for the upcoming polls. Despite clear instructions that attendance was compulsory, a total of 1,329 appointed staff members did not show up for the training.
A senior PCMC official confirmed that the majority of those served notices are teachers who had been appointed for election duties on polling day. The notices clearly state that the officials have violated provisions of the Representation of the People Act by skipping the essential training without seeking prior permission from the authorities.
Training Content and Legal Implications
The official emphasized the critical nature of the training for ensuring free, fair, and smooth elections. "The programme was held in three comprehensive sessions," he explained. The training covered a wide range of topics essential for conducting the polls flawlessly.
The curriculum included detailed explanations of:
- The entire polling process and procedures.
- Preparatory arrangements required at polling stations.
- Relevant election laws and the latest guidelines from the Election Commission of India.
- Live, hands-on demonstrations on the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Staff were also given detailed instructions on the proper handling and management of the EVMs to prevent any technical glitches or procedural errors on election day.
Official Warning and Election Preparedness
The PCMC administration has issued a stern warning to the absent staff members. The show-cause notice demands a valid and justifiable explanation for their absence. "Appropriate action will be initiated against those who fail to submit a satisfactory explanation," the senior official stated, underscoring the seriousness with which the civic body views this lapse.
Earlier, Commissioner Shravan Hardikar had outlined the massive scale of manpower required for the elections. The civic body needs approximately 14,250 officers and staff to manage operations across 2,034 polling stations in the Pimpri Chinchwad area. He had informed that more than 14,000 personnel had already been deployed for various election-related tasks in the run-up to the polls, making the absence of such a large group from training a major operational concern.
This decisive action highlights the administration's focus on discipline and preparedness, aiming to leave no room for error in the important democratic exercise of the civic elections.
