Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, on the final day of his two-day visit to Jharkhand, emphatically declared Booth Level Officers (BLOs) the fundamental pillar for maintaining a credible voter list. Addressing a gathering of BLOs at Mohnanand Plus Two School in Tapovan, Deoghar, on Monday, Kumar underscored that a transparent and accurate electoral roll is the very bedrock of a functioning democracy.
Clean Voter List: The Foundation of Democratic Process
Kumar stressed that the primary objective must be to ensure no eligible Indian citizen is left out of the electoral roll. He informed the officers that an intensive revision of electoral rolls is currently being implemented in phases across the nation. While the formal announcement for Jharkhand is still pending, the CEC hinted it would be made soon.
"The preparedness and clarity shown by the state's BLOs indicate that full voter inclusion will be effectively achieved here as and when SIR gets rolled out," Kumar stated, expressing strong confidence in a smooth and transparent revision process for Jharkhand once it is officially announced.
Boosting BLO Credibility and Skills
The Election Commissioner also highlighted the Commission's initiative to issue official identity cards to BLOs, a move that enhances their authority and recognition. He commended the dedication shown by these officers, noting that their credibility is significantly bolstered during the critical door-to-door verification exercises.
During the interaction, BLOs from various polling stations shared their insights on several key areas, including voter mapping, age-based categorization, form procedures, house numbering, and special provisions for women voters linked to parental families. Impressed by their detailed understanding, CEC Kumar announced that select BLOs from Deoghar would soon receive specialized training at the prestigious India International Institute of Democracy and Election Management (IIIDEM) in New Delhi.
State's Preparations and Spiritual Sojourn
In preparation for the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Jharkhand, the state's Chief Electoral Officer, K Ravi Kumar, had initiated a parental mapping exercise in November last year. This process involves mapping the current voter lists with SIR data from 2003. By mid-December, officials reported that over 60% of the work, concerning approximately 2.65 crore voters, was already complete.
Briefly speaking to the media, CEC Gyanesh Kumar mentioned that during his visit since Sunday, he took the opportunity to offer prayers at the revered Baba Baidyanathdham temple in Deoghar and the Baba Basukinath temple in Dumka district.
The Monday program was also attended by Deoghar Deputy Commissioner Naman Priyesh Lakra and other senior administrative officials.
