In a major push toward conducting transparent, accurate, and voter-centric local body elections, the State Election Commission (SEC) of Odisha organized a comprehensive state-level training program in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.
The workshop was aimed at preparing field officials for the upcoming Panchayat and Municipal Elections scheduled for 2027, focusing heavily on door-to-door surveys and electoral roll revisions.
Chaired by State Election Commissioner Madhusudan Padhi, the event gathered key officials from across all districts, including Additional District Magistrates (ADMs), Sub-Collectors, District Panchayat Officers, BDOs, Executive Officers, and Booth Level Officer (BLO) Supervisors.
Focus on Error-Free Voter Lists and Door-to-Door Surveys
Delivering the presidential address, Commissioner Madhusudan Padhi urged officials to prioritize precision, transparency, and accountability at every operational stage. He emphasized that an accurate voter list is the bedrock of an inclusive democratic process.
To achieve this, the Commission has mandated a Door-to-Door Survey across the state. Officials were instructed to:
- Ensure no eligible citizen is left off the electoral roll.
- Rectify clerical errors in names, addresses, and demographic details.
- Remove names of ineligible, deceased, or permanently relocated voters following proper protocols.
- Deliver seamless, citizen-centric services to make voter registration hassle-free.
Insights from Field Leaders & Pilot Surveys
The event provided practical insights through real-world case studies. Municipal Director Arindam Dakua (IAS) highlighted key directives for urban municipal surveys, while Joint Secretary of Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water Surya Narayan Dash detailed critical operational aspects for rural Panchayat elections.
Additionally, field experiences from pilot surveys were shared to give officials a practical roadmap:
- Bhubaneswar Sub-Collector Manoranjan Sahu shared administrative guidance based on urban pilot drives.
- Haraprasad Mohanty, GPDO of Balipatna Block, presented ground-level findings from a pilot survey conducted in Kalyanpur Gram Panchayat.
- Sudhakar Behera, a BLO Supervisor, shared front-line challenges and solutions directly with senior leadership.
Interactive Q&A and Inter-Departmental Synergy
The workshop underscored the need for tight coordination between district and block administration to address field challenges rapidly. During an interactive Q&A session at the conclusion of the training, officers clarified operational doubts regarding complex survey scenarios directly with master trainers.
The event commenced with a welcome address by SEC Secretary Santosh Kumar Dash and concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Deputy Secretary Durga Charan Murmu.
