In a significant move aimed at safeguarding the voting rights of plantation workers, the Election Commission of India (EC) has approved a proposal to accept employment records from tea gardens and cinchona plantations as valid documents for voter registration in several districts of North Bengal.
EC Gives Green Light to CEO's Proposal
The decision came on Sunday, following a proposal sent by West Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manoj Agarwal. The EC communicated its "no objection" to the plan in a formal letter signed by EC Under Secretary Shakti Sharma. This approval is specifically for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process in the north Bengal districts of Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, and the two Dinajpurs.
Addressing a Longstanding Documentation Hurdle
For years, a large number of tea garden workers, who reside in labour quarters within the estates, have faced exclusion from electoral rolls. The primary reason has been their lack of standard documents notified by the Election Commission, such as utility bills or property papers. Consequently, many of these workers were missing from the 2002 SIR list.
The proposal from the Bengal CEO's office sought to rectify this by having their official garden or plantation employment records recognized as proof of both identity and residence for the SIR. This step is crucial to ensure their names are not struck off the final voter list due to a technicality of documentation.
Verification Process to be Conducted by District Officials
Earlier, Election Commission officials had outlined the verification mechanism for this unique group of voters. The responsibility will lie with the District Election Officers (DEOs). The DEOs will conduct thorough checks which are expected to include:
- Public hearing inquiries
- Recording of formal statements from the workers
- Preparation of official proceedings to authenticate their claims
This structured verification process is designed to maintain the integrity of the electoral roll while being inclusive. The EC's approval marks a pivotal step towards ensuring that a significant segment of North Bengal's population, integral to the region's economy, is not left out of the democratic process due to their living and working conditions.
