In a modest 600-square-foot apartment in Phoolbagan, Kolkata, a single bedroom has transformed into a makeshift election office. This is the operational base for Pinki Jaiswal, one of 80,681 Booth Level Officers (BLOs) racing against time to complete West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls before the December 4 deadline.
The Digital Struggle: When Technology Fails
Pinki Jaiswal, a 45-year-old primary teacher at Sanskrit Collegiate School, stares frustrated at her smartphone. "The app is stuck again," she sighs, experiencing yet another technical failure while trying to upload enumeration forms to the Election Commission's BLO application. This technological hurdle has become her biggest challenge in the revision process.
"The app only functions properly during limited hours - from 8 pm to midnight, and then briefly between 6 am and 8:30 am," Pinki explains. As the BLO for Block Number 115 in Beleghata Assembly constituency, she manages 751 electors according to the 2025 voter list. The current revision marks the first intensive update since 2002, requiring voters to reference that historical list when completing their forms.
A Day in the Life of a BLO
Pinki's day begins at 5:30 AM when she wakes up to start uploading forms during the app's morning operational window. After the system slows down around 8:30 AM, she transitions to field visits, carefully packing her Election Commission tote bag with enumeration forms, voter lists, registers, and essential stationery.
Her constituency presents a diverse challenge, featuring both slums and apartment complexes with Bengali and Hindi-speaking populations. Her daily 15-minute autorickshaw ride takes her to locations like Jay Narayan Tarka Panchanan Road, a slum settlement where most residents require assistance completing their forms.
"Out of 751 electors, I've matched approximately 570 with the 2002 voter list," Pinki reports. "Around 182 names represent individuals who have either passed away or relocated. Those unable to establish connections with the 2002 SIR will face hearings, adding another layer to our responsibilities."
Navigating Voter Apathy and Anxiety
The human element presents equally significant challenges. Voter indifference and anxiety have slowed progress considerably. "People know they have until December 4 to submit forms, so they question why we're in such a hurry," Pinki observes. "Others panic when faced with the forms, essentially leaving the entire responsibility to us."
Her makeshift office in an apartment complex parking lot becomes a hub of activity from 12:30 to 4 PM daily. Here, she encounters the full spectrum of public response - from understanding cooperation to impatient demands, like 70-year-old Rajinder Singh who snapped about his hospitalized wife when asked to wait briefly.
The emotional toll extends beyond voter interactions. "I know many BLOs suffering from anxiety," Pinki reveals. "We should have received at least two months for this process. While I can overlook my spondylosis or my parents' illness, not everyone can handle such pressure."
The Personal Sacrifice for Democratic Duty
Pinki's commitment comes at significant personal cost. Her mother, Kaveri Jaiswal, notes that "she eats almost nothing the entire day" and had to endure toothache for a week before Pinki could take her to the dentist. Even Pinki's own family forms remain incomplete amidst her hectic schedule.
The teacher deeply misses her students during this intensive period. "I'm the class teacher for Class 4, and my students are completely lost now. I'm trying to complete my SIR responsibilities quickly so I can return to them before their examinations next month."
Evenings bring no respite. What was once personal reading time has become another upload session from 8 PM to midnight. "I receive at least 200 phone calls daily," Pinki says with a tired laugh. "All that we do for the sake of democracy!"
With the December 4 deadline looming, Pinki has uploaded 70% of her forms, working tirelessly through technological limitations, voter challenges, and personal sacrifices to ensure every eligible citizen receives their democratic right.
