Villagers Block Road, Demand Voter List Hearings at Their Doorstep
Residents of Ganguly Danga village in East Burdwan district staged a major road blockade on Monday. They blocked the busy Katwa-Burdwan state road for several hours. Their demand was clear. They want hearings for the Special Intensive Revision of the voters' list to happen right in their village.
Protest Led by Women and Elderly
Approximately 1,100 villagers participated in this protest. Women and elderly residents took the lead. They expressed strong frustration. Currently, these SIR hearings take place at the block development office. That office sits about four kilometers away from their homes.
Protestors highlighted a critical issue. They said nearly half of the local residents have received SIR notices. These notices cite logical discrepancies in the voter list. For many, traveling to the distant block office poses a serious hardship.
The elderly and those who are unwell find the journey particularly difficult. They argued that holding hearings at designated polling booths within the village would solve this problem. It would make the process accessible to everyone.
Demand for Adequate Notice
The villagers raised another important point. They demanded that voters receive proper advance notice for these hearings. Many residents are migrant workers. They often leave the village for work. Short-notice hearings make it impossible for them to attend. They miss the chance to correct their voter details.
Officials Engage, Protest Temporarily Withdrawn
Local authorities took note of the agitation. The joint block development officer and police personnel held discussions with the protestors. Following these talks, the residents submitted a mass application. This application was addressed to the electoral registration officer and the Katwa subdivisional officer.
The joint BDO gave an assurance. He promised to forward all their concerns to the Election Commission. Satisfied with this immediate response, the protestors decided to withdraw the road blockade. However, they issued a stern warning.
Their agitation is not over. They stated clearly that if their demands remain unmet, they will intensify their protest. Their next steps could include a hunger strike. The community is determined to see the hearing process become more local and convenient.
This protest underscores a larger issue in voter registration. Remote hearings create barriers for rural populations. The residents of Ganguly Danga are fighting for a fundamental right. They want equal and easy access to the electoral process.
