India's 'Gutli Man' Jasmit Singh Arora Deleted from Electoral Roll in Kolkata
Jasmit Singh Arora, widely recognized as the 'Gutli Man of India' for his nationwide initiative to collect discarded mango seeds and transform them into fruit-bearing trees, has been unexpectedly removed from the electoral roll. The 54-year-old entrepreneur-turned-environmentalist, who has resided in Bangur for 46 years and was previously listed on the 2002 voter list, discovered his deletion when the final roll was published, without any prior hearing or notification.
Confusion Over Deletion as Family Remains Listed
While Jasmit's name has been struck off, his wife and daughter, who are mapped to him, continue to be on the electoral roll. His wife's entry even includes the notation 'wife of Jasmit Singh Arora,' adding to the perplexity. "This entire exercise has turned into a joke. There is no algorithm, no pattern and no reason for deletion," Jasmit expressed. "I was not called for any hearing but suddenly discovered that my name has been deleted. Upon inquiring, I was told to file a fresh application."
Background and Environmental Mission
Jasmit is an Ayurvedic doctor by education, though he does not practice clinically. "My bread and butter is my Ayurvedic medicine business, and I am into full-time environmental social service," he stated. He has spearheaded a green movement across India, engaging schoolchildren and farmers through his 'Gutli Mission.' This project involves collecting mango seeds from various sources, including international contributors from Sweden, Australia, and New Zealand, as well as schools, Army personnel, and the BSF.
Through grafting techniques, he reduces the growth period of mango trees from 15 years to just two or three years. His 'Tree ka langar' initiative distributes these saplings to farmers, enhancing biodiversity and boosting agricultural income. "The farmers know which breed they are growing and when they will get results. It improves biodiversity and also helps the farmers earn more," he explained.
Frustration Over Voting Rights
Jasmit lamented the random deletion of his name despite having a passport and extensive travel history, including recognition through a short film by SRFTI that acclaimed his work. "I am well known for my social work. Even after that, my name got struck off. I will not be able to exercise my voting right this election and will have to go through a lot of hassle to get my voting right back. I do not know whether to laugh or cry," he added, highlighting the irony of being a prominent figure yet excluded from the democratic process.
