New Delhi: A focused two-day capacity-building programme for electoral field functionaries from Bihar commenced today at the India International Institute of Democracy & Election Management (IIIDEM), New Delhi.
The training initiative is part of the Election Commission of India’s efforts to ensure error-free electoral rolls and enhance coordination in election-related duties in the poll-bound state.
A total of 229 Booth Level Officers (BLOs), 12 Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and 2 District Election Officers (DEOs) from Bihar are participating in this intensive training session. This is the third batch of BLOs from the state to undergo training at IIIDEM.
In addition to the main programme, a specialised one-day training session for the State Police Nodal Officer (SPNO) and other police officers from Bihar also began today. The session aims to strengthen coordination between electoral authorities and law enforcement agencies, especially in areas such as law and order management, vulnerability assessment, deployment of paramilitary forces (CAPF), and enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
The training was formally inaugurated by Chief Election Commissioner Shri Gyanesh Kumar, in the presence of Election Commissioner Dr. Vivek Joshi, followed by an interaction with the participating officials.
The curriculum is designed to familiarize BLOs with their roles and responsibilities within the statutory framework and to train them in the use of IT tools that support accurate voter list management. The trained officers will also serve as Assembly Level Master Trainers (ALMTs), playing a crucial role in building a stronger nationwide BLO network.
This programme is part of the first phase of physical training sessions currently underway at IIIDEM. So far, 555 BLOs from Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam, along with 279 Booth Level Agents (BLA-1s) from 10 recognised national and state political parties in Bihar, have undergone training.
IIIDEM has earned global recognition for its electoral management training. Over 3,000 participants from 141 countries, including democracies such as Australia, the UK, USA, Brazil, and France, have previously benefited from its programs, reaffirming India’s leadership in democratic capacity building.
