**Bhubaneswar: ** As a part and parcel of the ongoing mock poll drill underway in a bid to create awareness on the function of EVM and VVPAT machines to be used in the upcoming general elections, Odisha Chief Electoral Office (CEO) today conducted the exercise in the State Secretariat here.
In his media reactions, Odisha Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi said, “As per the instruction of the Hon’ble Election Commission, awareness on EVM and VVPAT is being generated at every place. Accordingly in the Secretariat today, our Secretary level and Additional Secretary level officers were invited by the CEO.”
“VVPAT has been introduced this time. Hence, a demonstration was held today on the function of EVM and VVPAT,” he added.
Briefing media after the mock poll drill at State Secretariat, Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Surendra Kumar said, “In order to make all aware, we have already deployed about 800 vehicles for the last one month in over 51,000 villages in our Odisha. Around 31 lakh people have participated in the mock poll drill. In the days to come, we will be having our second part demonstration of EVM and VVPAT.”
He added, “Today we had organized a mock poll drill in the State Secretariat in which the top officers were made aware of the EVM and VVPAT. Chief Secretary, Principal Secretaries and Secretaries of various departments took part in the exercise.”
“As VVPAT machine is being used across Odisha for the first time during the forthcoming election, this awareness assumes much significance. For the last 18 years, all are well versed with Control and Ballot units. The knowledge is essential of what VVPAT machine is, what its full meaning is and what its prime objective is,” he stated.
The CEO further mentioned, “We also want to generate awareness among those who are mainly opinion makers. It is because EVM-related baseless publicity has been made in the past. EVM and VVPAT are fully faithful process. This is the aim and objective for which it has been done here. In the day to come also, a mock poll drill will be done for the State-level media persons on February 15. The media persons will participate in the mock poll.”
**Also Read:** [Major Reshuffle Of IPS Officers In Odisha](https://www.ommcomnews.com/odisha-news/major-reshuffle-of-ips-officers-in-odisha)
**Also Read:** [Ex-Acting CBI Chief Held Guilty Of Contempt, Sentenced Till Rising Of Court](https://www.ommcomnews.com/india-news/cbi-s-nageswara-rao-held-guilty-of-contempt)
