Nagpur Voters Face Significant Challenges in EPIC Number Mapping with 2002 Voter List
Residents of Nagpur are grappling with mounting difficulties as they attempt to map their EPIC numbers with the 2002 voter list. This ongoing issue is inflicting considerable mental, physical, and financial stress on voters, particularly as many discover that their own names or those of their relatives are absent from the 2002 electoral rolls.
Delays and Hesitancy Among Booth Level Officers
According to district election officials, the voter mapping process has yet to gain substantial momentum. In the Katol and Saoner assembly constituencies, hesitant booth level officers (BLOs) have not initiated the exercise, prompting authorities to issue them formal notices for their failure to commence work. Errors within the voter list and incomplete information provided by BLOs are compounding the challenges across the city, as reported by individuals involved in the process.
Low Awareness and Accessibility Issues
Jafar Nagar resident Mohammad Ziyaullah Khan highlighted that awareness about the SIR (Special Intensive Revision) process remains severely limited. Despite the establishment of help desk facilities, inadequate publicity has hindered participation, leaving many eligible voters unaware of the assistance available to them.
Dr. Khwaja Izhar Ahmed, city president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Nagpur, emphasized that voter mapping awareness is low among both educated and uneducated citizens. Numerous voters are struggling to complete the process due to a lack of clarity and proper guidance.
Gender Disparities and Procedural Confusion
JIH reports indicate that both voters and several BLOs lack a proper understanding of the mapping procedures. A notable gender disparity exists: while male voters unable to locate their father's or grandfather's names for mapping are permitted to use their grandmother's voter list, female voters do not have this provision and must rely solely on their father's voter list from 2002.
Widespread Errors and Missing Information
A major concern is the inability of many voters to find their own names, or those of family members and parents, in the 2002 voter list. In numerous instances, even neighbours' names are missing, pointing to significant errors and irregularities in the records. Voters whose parents have passed away, or those uncertain about their parents' place of posting as government employees at specific times, are facing serious obstacles in completing the mapping process.
Additionally, when voters search for BLO details using their EPIC numbers, they often encounter missing names and contact numbers. Some BLOs have stated they have not received adequate training for the mapping process. Complaints also include BLOs not answering phone calls, keeping phones switched off, or failing to return calls.
Official Response and Progress Update
Deputy district election officer Rachana Indurkar acknowledged that the exercise is progressing slowly, with many BLOs yet to fully engage. "After notices were issued, the work started. So far, around 25% of online mapping has been completed. No final dates have been declared yet, and the timeline may be extended slightly as the process is incomplete across the state. Once all BLOs are on board, we expect to reach around 50–55% and complete the remaining work within the additional time," she explained.
Community Initiatives to Assist Voters
In response to these challenges, multiple SIR Help Desk Centres have been established. One such centre at Eidgah Ground in Jafar Nagar was set up through a collaborative effort by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Maharashtra and Naujavane Jafar Nagar to provide much-needed assistance to voters navigating the complex mapping process.
