97-Year-Old Kolkata Refugee's Voter Name Deleted After Seven Decades of Voting
In a distressing development from Kolkata, Subarna Bala Poddar, a 97-year-old refugee who has participated in every single election since becoming eligible to vote, has had her name inexplicably deleted from the voter list following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process. This deletion has left her family bewildered and fighting to restore her fundamental democratic right.
A Life Marked by Displacement and Resilience
Subarna Bala Poddar was born in Abdullahpur, in what was then undivided Bengal, and was married at a very young age. During the traumatic 1947 Partition, her family was forced to abandon their home with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They eventually settled in Kolkata, where they have been residing on Narkeldanga North Road for decades.
Remarkably, Subarna Bala remains unaware that her name has been removed from the electoral rolls. When questioned about whether she intends to vote in the upcoming election, she responded in Bengali, "Shorir dile vote debo" ("If my health permits, I will vote"). In fragmented words, she emphasized that exercising her right to vote is a top priority for her, and she has never missed a single election since becoming eligible.
When asked if she would be upset if unable to vote this time, she expressed confusion, stating, "I have a voter's card, so why can't I vote?" This poignant question underscores her unwavering commitment to democratic participation.
Family's Struggle and Administrative Hurdles
Her daughter, Sandhya Poddar, revealed that in 2024, the Election Commission had arranged a home voting facility for Subarna Bala due to her inability to visit the polling booth independently. Previously, she would eagerly prepare early in the morning and accompany Sandhya and neighbors to cast her vote. However, this election cycle, she will be unable to participate because her name has been deleted despite the family submitting all required documents.
The issue traces back to a spelling error in her name, which appeared as Swarna Bala in the 2002 SIR roll. She was summoned for a hearing where she presented multiple documents, including her voter ID, Aadhaar card, bank passbook, and the widow pension she receives from the state government. Astonishingly, all these documents were rejected.
The family subsequently completed Form 6 for the fresh inclusion of her name, but this application was also turned down. Sandhya expressed their frustration, saying, "She receives a widow pension, and we submitted that document as well. But nothing was considered, and everything was rejected. My mother did not have a birth certificate, which was not available in those days. We are in the dark about how to restore her name, or whether she will remain a deleted voter for the rest of her life."
Broader Impact on the Family
Subarna Bala is not the only one affected. The names of three other voters in her family were also deleted. Her two grandsons, who attempted to link their applications through her, likewise lost their voting rights. Sandhya noted that this year, only four out of eight family members will be able to cast their votes.
"We will cast our votes even if half of the family has lost their rights. My mother looks very happy whenever she gets her index finger inked, but I don't know if she will be able to get her voting rights back in her lifetime. But we will keep trying," Sandhya affirmed, highlighting their determination.
Political Intervention and Systemic Concerns
Mala Bhattacharya, the Booth Level Agent (BLA) of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), visited Subarna Bala's home on Thursday morning. This followed a meeting by Kunal Ghosh, the TMC candidate from Beleghata, who expressed concern during his campaign. Bhattacharya recounted, "I questioned the Booth Level Officer (BLO) of this part, but she too was confused about the reason for the deletion and said she needed to submit 'solid' documents before the Election Commission. Our question is from where a 97-year-old woman will get solid or fool-proof documents other than these."
Bhattacharya further disclosed that the number of voters in this area has decreased from 1,326 to 1,092 after the special intensive revision of electoral rolls, raising questions about the process's transparency and fairness.
This case sheds light on the challenges faced by elderly citizens, particularly those from refugee backgrounds, in navigating bureaucratic procedures. It underscores the urgent need for more compassionate and flexible documentation requirements to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised, especially those who have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to democracy.
