1.73 crore enumeration forms distributed across Telangana under SIR
Hyderabad, June 29
About 1.73 crore enumeration forms have been distributed across Telangana in just four days under the Special Intensive Revision, Chief Electoral Officer Sudharshan Reddy said on Monday.
The Chief Electoral Officer held a video conference with District Collectors regarding the ongoing SIR process across the state.
He commended the performance of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and election officials for distributing approximately 1.73 crore enumeration forms door to door within just four days of the commencement of the process.
The BLOs had distributed 1,43,17,635 enumeration forms across the state as of Sunday (June 28), covering 42.33 per cent of the voters.
The state has more than 3.38 crore voters, of whom 2.38 crore had been mapped as of June 20.
Sudharshan Reddy advised the concerned district-level officials to encourage BLOs to ensure 100 per cent distribution of enumeration forms within the stipulated timeframe.
The Chief Electoral Officer made it clear that BLOs must discharge their duties in accordance with the rules and that strict legal action would be taken against any violations.
He urged political parties and Booth Level Agents (BLAs) to actively participate in the SIR and effectively fulfil their responsibilities.
He directed Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs) and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) to conduct extensive field visits, provide necessary guidance to BLOs, enhance engagement with the public and widely publicise the Voter Helpline (1950) and helpdesk numbers.
He also instructed officials to review the daily voter awareness programmes conducted by DEOs, EROs and AEROs, publish details regularly on social media and comprehensively document field visits undertaken by the officials.
The Chief Electoral Officer directed District Election Officers to conduct another round of training for BLOs to expedite the process of assisting voters in accurately filling out enumeration forms and to ensure the effective achievement of targets.
Meanwhile, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President Mahesh Kumar Goud attended a Booth Level Agents (BLA) awareness meeting on the SIR at Nandipet Mandal in Armur Assembly constituency of Nizamabad district.
He said that every eligible voter must be included in the electoral roll and that no misconceptions should prevail among the public regarding the voter list revision process.
He urged BLAs to work responsibly to ensure that every eligible voter's name is included in the electoral rolls while ineligible names are removed in accordance with the Election Commission's guidelines.
"It is our collective responsibility to create awareness among the people and ensure there is no confusion or misinformation about the revision process. The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy. I call upon our party cadre to work actively at the grassroots, provide accurate information to the public, and coordinate effectively to make this exercise a success," the TPCC chief said in a post on X.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The TPCC chief's call for awareness is timely. Voter list revisions can be confusing, and misinformation spreads easily, especially on WhatsApp groups. We saw that in the last elections. BLAs from all parties should coordinate to clear doubts, not create them. 👍
Strict legal action against violations is important, but it's equally crucial to hold BLOs accountable while also supporting them. They are on the ground doing tough work. Hope officials don't just threaten but also provide resources. The field visits by AEROs and EROs can help identify bottlenecks.
100% distribution is a tall order, but with 42% covered in four days, it's achievable. My concern is with seasonal workers and those who move between districts. Many voters from Telangana work in other states. Does the SIR process account for them? The article doesn't mention that.
I appreciate the TPCC president's call for responsible work. But the real test is whether these forms are actually reaching every household, especially in slums and remote areas. Also, social media publicity is fine, but many voters lack internet access. Traditional methods like village announcements and local newspapers should also be used.
The mention of ineligible names being removed is important. Some constituencies have issues with duplicate entries or names of deceased persons still on rolls. But this must be done transparently, with proper verification, so genuine voters aren't disenfranchised. Political parties sometimes misuse this.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.