A four-day Certification Programme for Returning Officers (ROs) & Assistant Returning Officers (AROs) of Nagaland began today at the Kohima Administrative Training Institute (ATI), the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Nagaland has informed. The Certification Programme is being conducted in view of next year’s Nagaland Legislative Assembly Elections.

During the inaugural session, CEO Nagaland, V Shashank Shekhar encouraged the officers to focus on their mandated role with utmost dedication and deliver service to the people with efficiency. Elections are at the heart of a democratic system of governance, he said.

The four-day simultaneous training programme is being conducted by Resource Persons/National Level Master Trainers (NLMTs) deputed by the Election Commission of India (ECI).

The inaugural program was attended by NLMTs Pratibha Parekh, Joint CEO, Rajasthan and Anil Salgotra, Joint CEO, Jammu & Kashmir.

The training will be conducted in two batches. The first phase is being conducted from 1-4 November for the following districts – Dimapur, Peren, Phek, Mokokchung, Wokha, Kiphire, Chumoukedima, Tseminyu and Pughoboto.

The second phase will be held from 22-25 November for these districts – Kohima, Zunheboto, Mon, Tuensang, Longleng, Noklak and Shamator.

The various sessions will include Electoral Roll, Qualification & disqualifications, Nomination, Scrutiny of nominations, Withdrawal of Candidature and Allotment of Symbol, District Election Management Plan (DEMP) including COVID Guidelines, Vulnerability Mapping, Systematic Voter Education & Electoral Participation (SVEEP), Model Code of Conduct (MCC), IT applications, Postal Ballot, ETPBS, Media Certification & Monitoring Committee (MCMC) & Paid News, Law & Order, Expenditure Monitoring and Accounts on Election Expenditure, Polling Party and Poll Day Management, Service Voter Portal, Observer Portal, EVM-VVPAT Administrative procedure, NGRS.