A persistent technical malfunction in the official BLO application is creating significant hurdles for the digitization of voter forms in Kolkata, dangerously close to the fast-approaching deadline. Booth Level Officers (BLOs), who have been instructed to complete the work by December 4, reported that the app's performance began deteriorating from Wednesday afternoon, severely hampering their workflow.
Sluggish Progress and Official Response
The impact of the app's instability is starkly visible in the numbers. By Friday evening, the overall digitization figure stood at 87.9%. This represents a mere 5% growth compared to the 83% completion recorded on Thursday evening. In the crucial 48-hour period since the problems started, only 9.5% of forms were successfully digitized. This is a sharp decline from the 10%-12% daily upload rate BLOs were managing before the glitch appeared.
Following numerous complaints from the ground, the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal, escalated the issue to the Election Commission on Thursday, urging for a swift resolution. Despite these efforts, many BLOs on Friday continued to grapple with a slow server and other technical snags, forcing a deceleration in their work precisely when they have been asked to accelerate.
BLOs Voice Their Frustrations
BLOs from across the city shared their difficulties, highlighting the practical challenges they face. Sumedha Bhattacharjee, a BLO from the Beadon Street area, mentioned, "The app is very slow and uploading of forms is taking time. Today, things were a little better, but problems are still there. So, the entire process is getting delayed."
An officer from the Kasba area echoed this sentiment, questioning how they can meet the deadline with a malfunctioning tool. A BLO in Garfa provided a more dire account, stating, "On Thursday, I could not upload forms as the app was not working. The problem persisted today. I tried to digitise some forms in the afternoon but could not do so. The EC should make the app glitch-free in the last leg."
Contrasting Views and Calls for Action
In a contrasting statement, a senior EC official claimed that they had not received any formal complaint regarding the app's performance or the slow pace of work, though he conceded that there "may be minor glitches." This disconnect between the field staff's experience and the official line has caused further concern.
Kinkar Adhikari, the general secretary of Sikshaanuragi Aikya Mancha, emphasized the pressure BLOs are under. He stated, "BLOs are working under pressure to meet deadline, but every day they are dealing with new challenges that the EC should address. They should extend the deadline." This call for a deadline extension underscores the critical nature of the technical impediments and the need for a reliable system to ensure a complete and accurate electoral roll.
