Author: MIL-OSI Publisher

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Paul Tse and a written reply by the Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Mr Christopher Hui, in the Legislative Council today (May 7):
 
Question:
 
     Recently, I, together with representatives of The Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC), have organised a community talk on “Wills and Reverse Mortgages” to promote early retirement planning and legal knowledge of estate inheritance among the public. During the session, many members of the public have expressed keen interest in the “Reverse Mortgage Programme” (RMP) of “housing-for-pension”, and the demand for reverse mortgages is particularly high among those who do not intend for their children or family members to inherit their owner-occupied property upon their death. In addition, many members of the public have further inquired why the Government does not allow them to use their Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) contributions to purchase their first home, so that they can buy their own home during a property price downturn and use the property for a reverse mortgage in their old age, thereby ensuring a comprehensive and adequate retirement protection. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) of the expenditure and manpower allocated in each of the past three years to promote the “Retire 3” Programme operated by HKMC (i.e. the HKMC Annuity Plan, the RMP and the Policy Reverse Mortgage Programme) (set out by year and plan/programme); the results of the promotional efforts; whether performance indicators have been established for such promotional efforts;
 
(2) as there are views that reverse mortgages have not yet gained popularity in Hong Kong, whether the Government has studied the underlying reasons;
 
(3) whether it has studied if allowing members of the public to use MPF contributions for first home purchases, thereby enabling them to “reverse-mortgage their homes” upon retirement, can help develop the reverse mortgage market and alleviate the Government’s burden in meeting the housing needs of the elderly; if such studies have been conducted, of the findings; if not, whether the Government can commence such a study immediately; and
 
(4) some members of the public have reflected that the Government has repeatedly “backtracked” on the issue of using MPF contributions for first home purchases in the past (including the former Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury indicating in his reply to my question on November 29, 2017 that the issue would be studied, and the Chief Executive also stating prior to the delivery of this year’s Budget that the Government would study the issue), with none of the commitments having been implemented to date, and there are views pointing out that each instance of “backtracking” by the Government has left the public deeply disappointed, whether the authorities will, in the light of the potentially significant public demand for a housing-for-pension scheme coupling MPF first home purchases with reverse mortgages, listen carefully to public opinion and consider the home for retirement plan of “MPF first home purchases plus reverse mortgages”; if not, of the reasons for that?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     In consultation with the Housing Bureau and the Hong Kong Mortgage Corporation Limited (HKMC), the reply to the four parts of the question is as follows:
 
(1) One of the missions of the HKMC is to promote the development of the retirement planning market. To this end, the HKMC launched the brand of “HKMC Retire 3” in mid-2021 to promote the HKMC Annuity Plan, the Reverse Mortgage Programme (RMP) and the Policy Reverse Mortgage Programme (PRMP). With ongoing efforts in promotion and education, public receptiveness to the three products has been enhanced. The business performance of the three products over the past three years is tabled below:
 

	2022	2023	2024
RMP (Number of approved applications)	938	797	1 033
PRMP (Number of approved applications)	41	44	55
HKMC Annuity Plan (Number of policies)	3 254	2 205	10 835

 
     The daily operations of the HKMC Annuity Plan, the RMP and the PRMP involve various areas of work, including customer service, promotion, underwriting, finance, actuarial analysis, and information systems. The HKMC and its relevant subsidiaries deploy manpower resources as appropriate according to actual needs to properly operate and promote the products. For instance, as the Hong Kong community returned to normalcy after the epidemic, the HKMC has resumed promoting the “HKMC Retire 3” substantially since 2023, with 76 and 133 promotional events held in 2023 and 2024 respectively, including seminars and information booths. There were about 15 staff members directly planning and organising the promotional events. The expenses for the promotional activities were absorbed by HKMC’s internal resources.
 
(2) The RMP has become increasingly popular since its launch in 2011. As of end-April 2025, a total of over 8 200 applications have been approved, with a year-on-year increase by around 30 per cent in the number of approved applications in 2024. As the RMP is by nature a loan arrangement, its demand depends on various factors, such as the personal needs of individual retired homeowners, the condition of the residential property and financial markets (including interest rate fluctuation), etc. The HKMC will continue its public education and promotion to help the elderly make proper financial arrangements for retirement.
 
(3) and (4) The Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) system is set up to assist the public to save up for their retirement. Any proposals allowing early withdrawal of accrued benefits, including for the purpose of first-time home ownership, must take into consideration the corresponding reduction of scheme members’ accrued benefits meant for their retirement. The MPF is a long-term investment with compounding effect, designed to allow the MPF benefits to accumulate steadily and be kept in the accounts for value growth during the working life of scheme members. Therefore, accrued benefits should be preserved in the system as far as possible and should only be withdrawn upon retirement of the employed persons. If we were to relax the preservation requirement on accrued benefits and allow scheme members to make early withdrawal to meet home ownership needs, the accrued benefits would be leaked from the system and fail to accumulate for value growth, thereby undermining the integrity of the MPF system and rendering it difficult to achieve the purpose of assisting the working population to save for their retirement.
 
     Therefore, we should carefully assess the implications of allowing scheme members to withdraw their the MPF accrued benefits early for the purposes of first-time home ownership and future application for reverse mortgage on their retirement savings. These considerations include: when comparing with other countries and regions, Hong Kong’s current MPF mandatory contribution rate is relatively low, and it may undermine the intended purpose of the MPF of providing basic retirement protection for employed persons if the preservation requirement on accrued benefits were relaxed; investments in real estate bear higher risks than those in the MPF funds, and purchasing properties with the MPF would diminish the MPF system’s benefits of investment risk diversification; the arrangements regarding whether the proceeds from the sale of a property of which the down payment for its purchase was paid for with the MPF funds should be reinvested in MPF, etc. The Government and the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority will continually review the operation of the MPF system taking into account different factors, and welcome views regarding the MPF system reform from various sectors.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Hong Kong Customs earlier detected two cases of exporting smuggled cigarettes in Kwai Chung and, upon a follow-up investigation, dismantled an illicit cigarette packaging and storage centre in Yuen Long last night (May 6). A total of about 3.6 million suspected illicit cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $16 million and a duty potential of about $12 million were seized and two persons were arrested.
 
Customs earlier detected two cases of exporting smuggled cigarettes at a logistics centre in Kwai Chung. A total of about 1.9 million suspected illicit cigarettes were seized in two batches of goods destined for Australia.
 
After a follow-up investigation, Customs took action last night and raided a metal warehouse in Tai Tong, Yuen Long, seizing about 1.7 million suspected illicit cigarettes and a batch of packaging tools. A 46-year-old man and a 75-year-old woman, who claimed to be a worker in a vehicle repair workshop and a retiree respectively, were arrested.
 
Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate used a remote metal warehouse to collect and store illicit cigarettes. After repackaging, the illicit cigarettes were transported to the logistics centre concerned in Kwai Chung and were disguised as legitimate goods for exporting to Australia for profit.
 
Investigations of the cases are ongoing, and the two arrested persons were released on bail pending further investigation.

Customs will continue its risk assessment and intelligence analysis, and step up enforcement actions to combat cross-boundary illicit cigarette activities. Smuggling is a serious offence. Under the Import and Export Ordinance, any person found guilty of importing or exporting unmanifested cargo is liable to a maximum fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years upon conviction.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance, anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $1 million and imprisonment for two years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     Following is a question by the Hon Doreen Kong and a reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, in the Legislative Council today (May 7):
 
Question:
 
     There are views pointing out that although criminal offences of voyeurism and unlawful recording of intimate parts came into force in 2021, incidents involving clandestine recording of intimate parts of others in public places or private spaces still continue to occur from time to time following rapid technological development and widespread application of smart devices. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
 
(1) since the offence of unlawful recording of intimate parts came into force, of the number of reports received by the Police regarding such an offence, and the number of cases in which prosecutions were instituted against the persons involved;
 
(2) given that it is learnt that mini recording devices currently available on the market are mainly sourced from Mainland e-commerce platforms, of the measures the Government has put in place to prevent members of the public from using recording devices purchased through such channels for the purpose of clandestine recording; and
 
(3) whether it will enhance the design of public places to prevent clandestine recording, and formulate building and design standards against clandestine recording, such as installing detection devices against clandestine recording (e.g. infrared scanners) in schools, shopping malls and other venues, as well as conducting improvement works to address design flaws in partition panels in certain restrooms and changing rooms?
 
Reply:
 
President,
 
     The act of clandestine photography seriously invades the victims’ privacy and often inflicts incurable physical and mental harm on them. In 2021, the Security Bureau amended the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200) to introduce four new offences to combat voyeurism-related acts: (1) the offence of voyeurism, which deals with the act of peeping or clandestine photography in circumstances that give rise to a reasonable expectation of privacy; (2) the offence of unlawful recording or observation of intimate parts; (3) the offence of publication of intimate images originating from commission of the above two offences; and (4) the offence of publication or threatened publication of intimate images without consent.
 
     The four new offences carry a maximum penalty of five years of imprisonment. The Government seeks to convey a clear message to the community that clandestine photography or malicious dissemination of intimate images will not be tolerated and that there are serious consequences for committing the relevant offences, thereby achieving a deterrent effect and protecting possible victims. Through high-profile law enforcement actions as well as publicity and education, the Police have been combatting voyeurism-related acts on all fronts to protect the privacy of the public.
 
     The reply to the Member’s question is as follows:
 
(1)  The statistics on cases received by the Police, and the relevant numbers of arrests, prosecutions and convictions since voyeurism-related offences since the Crimes Ordinance (Cap. 200) came into effect in October 2021 are tabulated at Annex. In 2024, for the offence of voyeurism, the Police received 172 cases and arrested 107 persons; 59 persons were prosecuted. For the offence of unlawful recording or observation of intimate parts, the Police received 350 cases and arrested 252 persons; 193 persons were prosecuted.
 
(2)  According to the Police’s statistics, in nearly 98 per cent of the offences of voyeurism and unlawful recording or observation of intimate parts in the past year, offenders used smartphones with camera functions that they carried with them to commit the crimes. Most of these cases occurred in places with high pedestrian flow, such as public transport, transport stations, and shopping malls. The offenders took the advantage of the crowdedness to follow the victims when boarding or alighting from the vehicles or when taking the escalators, and surreptitiously took photos with their smartphones, which were handy and not easily spotted.
 
     There are of course still cases involving the use of other general photographic equipment, which can be purchased from various channels. Similar to smartphones, the intended purposes of most of these types of photographic equipment are proper and legitimate. For example, to provide better care for elderly living alone, many families install video cameras at home, so that family members can render timely assistance to the elderly persons when they need help. Therefore, we are of the view that regulation on photographic equipment or its purchasing channels may not be the most direct and effective way to combat such crime. The Government needs to strike a balance between combatting crime and protecting the rights of the public to reasonably use technology products.
 
(3)  On using architectural designs that prevent clandestine photography, the Police will continue to strengthen collaboration with public transport operators, shopping malls, public housing estates, private residential buildings and property management agencies, encouraging them to take into consideration the prevention of voyeurism-related offences in their overall crime prevention plan. The Police will also advise and encourage different stakeholders to conduct on-site reviews to ensure the safety of their venues. The Police are ready to offer advice on access control, illumination, mirror installation, coverage of closed circuit televisions, etc. to minimise the risks of crime. If necessary, professional advice can be sought from the Crime Prevention Bureau of the Police.
 
     On law enforcement, the Police have been stepping up efforts to combat voyeurism-related acts, particularly targeting high-risk places such as public transport, shopping malls and changing rooms. The Police have also been implementing anti-crime operations and intelligence-led operations to enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement.
 
     As for preventive measures, through ongoing collaboration with various stakeholders by way of publicity and education, the Police seek to heighten public vigilance and proactively disseminate messages on alertness against clandestine photography. Topics such as ways to identify suspected acts of clandestine photography and self-protection measures in different places (such as changing rooms and toilets) are covered. The Police also encourage citizens to come forward to report crimes.
 
     The Police have also produced posters, videos and publicity stickers on prevention of voyeurism-related acts, and distributed them through channels such as schools, shopping malls, public transport and government venues. Besides, the Police regularly organise crime prevention seminars and community activities to brief the public on relevant legislation and ways of self-protection. To further boost the publicity effects, the Police have uploaded relevant information, including educational videos and publicity posters, on the offence of voyeurism and prevention of clandestine photography on the website SafeCity.HK for public access and downloading.
 
     The Police call on members of the public to heighten their vigilance. In case suspected acts of clandestine photography are identified, they should not hesitate to report the crime and provide evidence to assist in the Police investigation. We will continue to combat voyeurism-related acts on all fronts through high-profile law enforcement actions, publicity and education to protect the privacy of the public.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Lau Kwok-fan and a reply by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, in the Legislative Council today (May 7):

Question:

The Government has reserved sites in the Northern Metropolis for the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT) and plan to publish the Northern Metropolis University Town Development Conceptual Framework in the first half of 2026. According to the current plan, NMUT will be spread over three sites, namely, about 46 hectares in Ngau Tam Mei New Development Area, about 40 hectares in New Territories North New Town and about five hectares in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area (HSK/HT NDA). In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) of the development timeline, infrastructure details, and estimated commencement date for the three aforesaid sites; given the positive response from local and overseas institutions towards NMUT, how will the Government expedite the development, including advancing the publication of the Northern Metropolis University Town Development Conceptual Framework within this year to meet demand;

(2) given that there are views pointing out that the development of HSK/HT NDA is ahead of the other two sites, and that the MTR Hung Shui Kiu Station is expected to be completed in 2030, will the Government give priority to the development of the site for education purpose in that area; if so, of the specific plans; if not, the reasons for that; and
​
(3) as the area of the site for education purpose in HSK/HT NDA is only five hectares, will the Government, in the light of the latest developments, dynamically plan and consolidate the site and expand it to a size comparable to the other two sites (i.e. over 40 hectares); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

Education is the key to nurturing talent. Hong Kong’s post-secondary education is highly internationalised and diversified. As the only city with five universities in the world’s top 100, Hong Kong is an international hub for exchange and collaboration among high-calibre talent. For two consecutive years, the Chief Executive has put forward in the Policy Address the goal of developing Hong Kong into an international education hub and a cradle for future talent, and making good use of the Northern Metropolis (NM), with new land, new population, excellent connectivity, development opportunities of different industries and close connections with the Mainland, to provide space for the post-secondary education sector to develop and enhance its quality and capacity. 

At present, the Government has reserved about 90 hectares (ha) of land in the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area (HSK/HT NDA), the Ngau Tam Mei New Development Area (NTM NDA) and the New Territories North New Town (NTN New Town) in the NM for developing the Northern Metropolis University Town (NMUT). The Government will encourage local post‑secondary institutions to introduce more branded programmes, research collaborations and exchange projects on a self-financing basis with renowned Mainland and overseas institutions in a flexible and innovative manner. The Government will also progressively take forward the NMUT development in accordance with four objectives and strategies, including:

(1) industry-led; 
(2) supporting Hong Kong’s development into an international post-secondary education hub; 
(3) aligned with the national development strategies; and 
(4) industry-driven, step by step.

The Education Bureau (EDB) plans to release the NMUT Development Conceptual Framework in the first half of 2026. 

In consultation with the Development Bureau (DEVB), our consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Lau Kwok-fan is as follows: 

(1) About five ha of land within the HSK/HT NDA has been planned for the NMUT, which can be made available for the development of a new campus for self financing post-secondary institution(s), with a view to supporting the parallel development of the self-financing and publicly-funded post-secondary education sectors. The statutory town plan for the HSK/HT NDA has been formulated, and the first stage of site formation works commenced in 2020. The Stage 2 works, including those for the NMUT land, have commenced progressively from the first half of 2024. It is expected that the NMUT land will be formed within 2026 at the earliest for the construction of a campus.

As for NTM NDA and NTN New Town, the NMUT land currently under planning is about 46 ha and 40 ha in size respectively. In end-2024, the DEVB announced the development proposals for these two NDAs. Upon completion of the statutory planning procedures, the DEVB will accord priority to the delivery of the NMUT land within these two NDAs. It is anticipated that government-led site formation works in NTM NDA can commence in 2027 at the earliest, with the first batch of land for the NMUT formed in 2029 at the earliest. The NMUT land in NTN New Town is proposed to be included in the Priority Development Area thereof, and government-led site formation works therein can commence in 2028/29 at the earliest, with the first batch of land for the NMUT formed in 2030/31 at the earliest.

(2) and (3) Land is a valuable social resource. With respect to the overall framework and planning for the development of post-secondary education in the NM, we have made reference to the preliminary development intentions on the NMUT submitted by relevant institutions. To take forward the development in a pragmatic and steady manner, having holistically considered various factors and development priorities, the Government has increased the site area of the NMUT from about 60 ha initially to about 90 ha at present to meet the needs of the post-secondary sector. Moreover, the EDB will continue to adhere to the principle of “industry-led, step by step” and take forward the planning of the NMUT in phases in accordance with the development strategies and paces of different zones in the NM.

As indicated in the Approved Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen Outline Zoning Plan and the NM Action Agenda, which were formulated by relevant departments after conducting extensive consultation and consolidating various policy considerations, the Government has reserved about five ha of land in the HSK/HT NDA for the development of a new self-financing post-secondary institution campus, with a view to supporting the parallel development of the self-financing and publicly-funded post-secondary education sectors. Since the relevant site formation works are expected to complete in 2026, it is anticipated that the relevant site can be ready for launch earlier than the ones in the NTM NDA and the NTN New Town. We are discussing planning matters with relevant bureaux/departments, including the specific location, area, use and density of the reserved land, and will invite eligible self-financing post-secondary institutions to submit expressions of interest for the site in due course, depending on the planning progress.

The approved Hung Shui Kiu and Ha Tsuen Outline Zoning Plan was promulgated in October 2018, which sets out the uses, such as domestic, industrial and government/community facilities uses, and development parameters of different land parcels in the area. The DEVB will conduct a timely review of planning matters, such as land uses and development parameters, in the light of the latest social and economic developments. It will propose amendments to the plan where necessary and will take into account the views of various sectors in the process. If the development plan of an institution requires a site area of more than five ha and meets the relevant criteria for consideration, such as feasibility, cost-effectiveness and making good use of existing campus facilities and public resources, the EDB will assess with relevant bureaux/departments whether there is room for revising the land use planning for the HSK/HT NDA so as to accommodate the development plan of the institution.

Thank you, President.

Source: Government of India

India Showcases SVAMITVA as Country Champion at the Ongoing World Bank Land Conference 2025 in Washington DC

Sessions on “Good Practices and Challenges in Land Tenure” & “Securing Land Rights for a Billion People” to Foster Dialogue on Inclusive Land Governance

Posted On: 07 MAY 2025 4:26PM by PIB Delhi

India, took center stage at the prestigious World Bank Land Conference 2025, held in Washington D.C., reaffirming its global leadership in inclusive land governance and grassroots empowerment. Participating as a Country Champion in the Plenary Session on 6th May 2025, Shri Vivek Bharadwaj, Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, delivered an address during the High-Level Plenary on “Good Practices and Challenges in Land Tenure and Governance Reform”, articulating India’s leadership in land rights, tenure reforms, and technology-driven spatial planning.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India’s pioneering SVAMITVA Scheme (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) has emerged as a transformational initiative in rural land governance. Shri Bharadwaj shared deep insights into the scheme’s journey – beginning with onboarding States, amending State laws and survey rules, and establishing critical technological infrastructure like Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) to enable accurate drone-based mapping. He explained how India’s federal structure requires strategic cooperation, coordination, and community involvement to drive reforms on a national scale.

In his address, Shri Bharadwaj mentioned the  Peruvian economist Hernando de Soto’s observation about the untapped economic potential locked in informal land holdings. He emphasized that India has surveyed 68,000 square kilometers of rural land under SVAMITVA, unlocking $1.16 trillion worth of assets, thereby offering millions of rural families legal title, dignity, and access to credit and opportunity. Through anecdotes of individuals like a dairy farmer in Madhya Pradesh who expanded his business, or a mother in Rajasthan who funded her daughter’s overseas education, he highlighted how land ownership is being converted into real empowerment.

The Special Event scheduled on 7th May 2025, titled “Securing Land Rights for a Billion People,” is set to further amplify India’s model of inclusive and technology-driven land governance. Led by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, the session will open with welcome and opening remarks by Dr. Klaus W. Deininger, Lead Economist, World Bank, followed by an introduction by Mr. Somik V. Lall, Senior Advisor, DECVP, World Bank. The event will spotlight the design, impact, and scalability of the SVAMITVA Scheme, with presentation by Shri Vivek Bharadwaj. An interactive Q&A session will follow, reflecting the growing global interest in India’s transformative approach to rural land governance. The side event will be attended by all delegates of the World Bank Land Conference 2025, including Advisors and Senior Advisors to seven Executive Directors representing regions across Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), Central Asia, South Asia, and South East Asia, offering a valuable opportunity for cross-regional dialogue and exchange. The side event will provide a focused platform to discuss the implementation methodology and transformative benefits of the SVAMITVA Scheme with countries that share similar land administration systems. The objective is to explore avenues for collaboration, enabling the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to support and partner with these nations in adopting and adapting similar models in their respective contexts.

On 8th May 2025, the focus will be on Gram Manchitra, India’s advanced GIS-based spatial planning platform. Shri Alok Prem Nagar, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, will present how the platform is facilitating spatially informed decision-making at the Panchayat level, showcasing the integration of cutting-edge technology with grassroots governance to foster sustainable, resilient, and self-reliant villages.

India’s interventions across these sessions aim to serve not only as a model for participatory and technology-enabled land governance, but also as a call to action for other nations striving to achieve SDG Target 1.4.2 which aims to ensure legal ownership and control over land for all, especially vulnerable communities. Through its presence at the World Bank Land Conference 2025, India has been positioned as a global thought leader in land tenure reforms, rural development, and inclusive governance demonstrating that a data-driven, people-centric approach can effectively bridge centuries-old land insecurity and usher in a new era of legal recognition, dignity, and prosperity for rural citizens.

***

Aditi Agrawal

(Release ID: 2127523) Visitor Counter : 30

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 07 MAY 2025 3:52PM by PIB Delhi

The Election Commission of India has now taken another unprecedented step of training field-level election functionaries from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry in Tamil language. 293 participants comprising 264 BLO Supervisors, 14 EROs, 2 DEOs and other officials are part of this mixed-batch training programme at IIIDEM, Delhi.

2. In his inaugural address Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Shri Gyanesh Kumar said that the BLOs are the first interface of the Election Commission of India with the voters and have a vital role in ensuring correct and updated electoral rolls. With this, nearly 2,300 participants have benefited from intensive training programmes being organised at IIIDEM during the past few weeks.  This 2-day training programme is in line with the expansive training programme to train election functionaries at all levels including over 1 lakh BLOs in the country in next few years.  

3. The BLO supervisors are being trained through interactive sessions, role plays, to ensure accurate filling of various forms including Form 6, 7 & 8. The module includes practical training in the use of IT solutions. These BLO supervisors are being equipped as Assembly Level Master Trainers to train other BLOs.

4. The participants were also familiarised with the provisions of first and second appeals against the final published electoral rolls with the District Magistrate (DM or an officer of equivalent rank) under section 24(a) of RP Act 1950 and Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the State/UT under section 24(b) respectively.

5. It may be recalled that no appeals were filed from Tamil Nadu and Puducherry after the completion of the Special Summary Revision (SSR) exercise as of 6th-10th of January 2025.

******

PK/GDH/RP

(Release ID: 2127514) Visitor Counter : 24