The two Chief Election Commissioners Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a period of five years to facilitate exchange of knowledge and experience, information, material, expertise and technical knowhow, training of personnel and development of human resources in electoral matters and also for taking up joint initiatives and providing assistance to others.
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Dr. S. Y. Quraishi offered to create a SAARC Resource Centre at the India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management for preserving and nurturing election related documentation in relation to SAARC countries. The Chief Election Commissioner of Bhutan welcomed the idea and presented the first set of documents for this Resource Centre.
The CEC of Bhutan Kunzang Wangdi requested for training of their newly inducted officers through the IIDEM platform in India. Dr. Quraishi agreed to the request and offered to train Bhutanese election officials during the process of forthcoming State elections, according to a statement issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI).
The CEC of India was impressed by the initiative of Election Commission of Bhutan in engaging school children for educating and persuading their parents to take part in the electoral process. Dr. Quraishi offered to adopt the model in India.
Election Commission of Bhutan also organized field visits for the Indian delegation to give them a first-hand appreciation of the district level election functionaries.
“Dr. Quraishi paid a courtesy call on the officiating Prime Minister of Bhutan, Yeshy Zimba, during which both sides exchanged views on strengthening electoral, democratic and governance processes between India and Bhutan,” the statement said.
The CEC also held informal consultations with Senior Cabinet Ministers, Leader of the Opposition, Supreme Court Judges, Cabinet Secretary and other dignitaries of Bhutan, added the statement.
“During these meetings, the Bhutanese side conveyed to the CEC their appreciation of ECI’s support to introduction of representative democracy in Bhutan.”
