The Election Commission is taking a significant step in West Bengal. It plans to deploy 294 senior micro-observers for the Special Summary Revision (SIR) exercise. This initiative will operate at the Assembly constituency level across the state.
First State to Receive Senior Micro-Observers
West Bengal will become the first state in India to have senior micro-observers for the SIR process. This move highlights the EC's focus on strengthening electoral roll management in the region.
Selection from Central Government Officers
The senior micro-observers will be appointed from a pool of central government officers. Specifically, they will come from Group A level officers or above. Equivalent officers from central public sector undertakings, including banks, are also eligible for selection.
Manoj Agarwal, the Chief Electoral Officer of Bengal, has already initiated the process. On Monday, he wrote to his counterparts in Bihar, Odisha, and Jharkhand. In his letters, he requested names of officers from these states. From these lists, he will appoint the senior micro-observers for Bengal.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Election Commission has not yet specified the exact roles of these senior micro-observers. However, an official provided some clarity on their functions.
These observers will work closely with Electoral Registration Officers (EROs). They will not attend hearings directly. Instead, their primary task involves observing EROs at the Assembly constituency level.
After their observations, they will submit detailed findings. These reports will go to the Chief Electoral Officer, the EROs, or special electoral roll observers. This process aims to ensure transparency and efficiency in the electoral roll revision.
The deployment of senior micro-observers represents a proactive measure by the Election Commission. It seeks to enhance the integrity of the electoral process in West Bengal through careful monitoring and reporting.
