Bhubaneswar: A total 73 Odisha Cadre IAS and IPS Officers as well as IRS Officers posted in the state have been roped in for Central Observers for the five poll bound states of Goa, Manipur, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Uttarakhand.
A Training in virtual mode was conducted by the Election Commission of India (ECI) for these Central Observers, who attended the training in the Convention Hall of Lokaseva Bhawan at the State Headquarters here at Bhubaneswar.
Chief Electoral Officer, Sushil Kumar Lohani, along with his team of officers were present on this occasion.
All the three Election Commissioners including Chief Election Commissioner Sushil Chandra, Election Commissioners Rajiv Kumar and Anup Chandra attended the programme and addressed the participants.
They urged the officers to feel proud to be part of this mega exercise as eyes and ears of the Commission.
They further advised them to guide the electoral process while on duty ensuring that all COVID protocols are followed in letter and spirit. The Election Commission emphasized on the neutrality and impartiality of the Central Observers.
They should be visible, they must be cordial and available to the public and election machinery.
They advised the Observers to ensure that the local administration conducts the elections in a free, fair & impartial manner in a Covid safe environment.
General Secretary, ECI, Umesh Sinha and other senior officers of the Commission made thematic presentations on the different aspects of conduct of Election during the pandemic situation.
The training was conducted following all COVID norms in the convention centre in a fully sanitized manner.
