By IANS,
New Delhi: The Election Commission of India Friday launched an advanced resource centre of learning, research, training and extension for participatory democracy and election management, officials said.
The India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIDEM) is being developed in collaboration with the UN, the Commonwealth and inter-governmental organisations like the Sweden based International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA).
“The institute will direct its efforts to enhance the potential and capacity of the Election Commission and its officials in carrying out their mandate and functions in a more effective and professional manner,” an official said.
“The first course would be held later this month for the Electoral Commission of Kenya,” he added.
Training and capacity development; voter education and civic participation; research, innovation and documentation; and international projects and technical collaboration are the four components of the IIDEM.
“The institute will be a national and international hub for exchange of good practices in election management,” the official added.
Operating intially from the poll panel’s office, the Nirvachan Sadan, the IIDEM in its initial phase has a capacity for 150 trainees with three modern lecture halls and related facilities.
“The institute will have its own campus with the state of the art training and conference facilities, hostel, library and resource centre in Delhi, for which the location is being finalised,” the official said.
According to the Election Commission, the institute carries the goal of meticulous, accurate, voter friendly implementation of election processes by committed, competent, credible and skilled managers and associated groups.