In a major preparatory step for the upcoming civic body elections, the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) successfully conducted comprehensive hands-on training for a large contingent of polling personnel on Sunday. The exercise aimed to ensure a seamless and error-free electoral process.
Large-Scale Training for Polling Staff
A total of 3,245 officers and employees, who have been appointed to manage 595 polling stations across all 20 wards of the corporation, participated in this crucial first training session. The training was organized in phases at multiple prominent venues across the city to accommodate the large number of participants.
Venues and Oversight
The sessions were held simultaneously at Swami Vivekananda College in V.T. Patil Hall (Rajaramapuri), the S.M. Lohia Ramganesh Gadkari Auditorium in Petala, and Rajaram College. The training was conducted by the respective Returning Officers and Assistant Returning Officers appointed for the polls.
Additional Municipal Commissioner Ravikant Adsul personally visited all the training centres to inspect the proceedings. He reviewed the training modules and issued necessary instructions to the officials on the ground to ensure the highest standards of preparedness.
Phased Training and Key Focus Areas
The training was conducted in two phases, from 10 am to 1 pm and again from 2 pm to 5 pm. Personnel from all administrative zones under the jurisdiction of the seven Returning Officers participated. These zones include areas like Kasba Bawda Mahasainik Training Centre, Dudhali Pavilion, Rajopadhyenagar, Gandhi Maidan, Dasara Chowk Shahaji College, and Major Dhyanchand Hockey Stadium.
Explaining the depth of the training, Additional Commissioner Ravikant Adsul stated that the officials received detailed guidance on their core responsibilities during the election process. The curriculum covered several critical areas:
- The Model Code of Conduct and its enforcement.
- Step-by-step voting and counting procedures.
- Relevant legal aspects governing the elections.
- Practical, hands-on handling of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) units.
- Protocols to be followed during emergency situations.
Objective: A Reliable and Transparent Election
Adsul emphasized that the primary objective of this intensive training was to build a robust framework for the elections. The focus is on ensuring the entire process is reliable, transparent, and free from any errors, confusion, or procedural irregularities. By equipping the polling staff with thorough knowledge and practical skills, the KMC aims to foster public confidence in the integrity of the civic polls.
The corporation has already set up dedicated offices for the seven Returning Officers who will oversee the election process in their designated areas. With this large-scale training complete, Kolhapur has taken a significant stride towards organizing a smooth and efficient election for its Municipal Corporation.
