Kolkata Booth Level Officers Dedicate Sunday to Voter Roll Tasks Amid Deadline Confusion
In Kolkata, booth level officers (BLOs) found themselves at work on a Sunday, navigating the ambiguity surrounding the Election Commission's February 7 deadline for concluding all Summary Revision (SIR) hearings in West Bengal. Despite the holiday, multiple BLOs seized the day to tackle incomplete SIR hearing duties, making home visits to collect additional documentation from electors who had previously submitted only PAN and Aadhaar cards.
These dedicated officials continue to manage pending tasks and upload documents diligently. The process for Form-6 applications, which facilitate the inclusion of fresh voters, remains actively underway, while requests for voter deletions through Form-7 applications are also progressing steadily.
Personal Accounts from the Field Highlight Challenges and Dedication
Debasree Ray De Sarkar, a 50-year-old BLO from the Shyampukur Assembly area who commenced her duties in October, was among those out on SIR assignments on Sunday. She emphasized that she was not alone in her efforts.
"Today, I visited five homes to gather documents beyond PAN and Aadhaar," she shared. "With domicile certificates now being accepted, I am advising everyone to apply for one if they lack other papers. After four months of repetitive work, fatigue is real, but I cannot forget that thousands of people's voting rights hinge on my actions in my assigned area. That responsibility fuels my perseverance. As long as possible, I will strive to ensure their names remain on the final electoral roll."
An anonymous BLO from central Kolkata expressed skepticism about the workload easing soon. "The hearing is just one part of the entire SIR process, and no one can assure us relief once the final roll is published," they noted. "The Election Commission of India consistently assigns new tasks, suggesting this cycle may not end abruptly."
Verification Hurdles and Strategic Holiday Visits
Arup Nag, a BLO from the Kasba area, also engaged in home visits on Sunday morning, highlighting the complexities of verification. "Verifying individuals who submitted forms for inclusion and correction has become exceptionally challenging," he explained. "I received documents from the Election Commission based on addresses, but many do not fall under my assigned section. Field visits are the sole solution. Since it's a holiday, I hope residents are home, enabling completion of verifications to prevent future issues."
Some BLOs are proactively addressing gaps, such as missing photographs on enumeration forms. A north Kolkata BLO stated, "I have at least ten forms without photos. Previous attempts to obtain them were refused. I will re-engage with these electors, requesting clear pictures for submission to the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer. While I understand their frustration with the process, compliance is essential to avoid potential name deletions from the voter list."
