Vastness of SIR of Election Commission

Everybody knows that the magnitude of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is vast and definitely will face backlashes in the opposition ruled states. Thus, the Election Commission should have taken adequate preparation. Did they really take such intensive preparation? Unfortunately, the reality seems different. The lack of preparedness is vivid in the SIR of election commission

Training of Booth Level Officers (BLO) for SIR of election commission

We know that Booth Level Officers (BLO) had gone for training for SIR of election commission. Even the Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, got angry as she was not duly informed regarding the same. We don’t know how many BLOs got the training and how intensive was the training? Consequently, the problem is that we encounter the situation, where they are not able to answer the queries.

Now conversely, let’s come to the harsh reality.  On the contrary, what are some BLOs  actually doing?  Some of them  have opened the enumeration form distribution centers under the guidance of the ruling parties. Conversely, the jobs of BLOs are to go door-to-door for distribution and collection of enumeration forms. In contrast, the citizens are to visit them, stand in long queues and collect the forms. However, does the Election Commission think that they can maintain impartiality in this method? What is the Sate Chief Electoral Officer doing? Another key point, isn’t he aware of the political turmoil and the recent political slugfest in West Bengal?

Enumeration form of Election Commission

Now lets shift our focus to  the details of  2002 voter list.

1. Additionally, why are they not getting reflected in the printed enumeration forms?
2. Hence, where from will the people collect the data?
3. The Booth and serial number and all other details have been changed in the recent past. Furthermore, does anyone have the list or the electoral slips of 2002?
4. Above all, why couldn’t the Election Commissioner fetch those details?
5. More precisely, has the election commission forgotten the illiteracy rate of the country?

In addition, why does the arrangement requires to mention the name of the father thrice in the form? However, couldn’t the Election Commissioner simplify the format?  Furthermore, if anyone signs on behalf of others like son, wife, father, mother, where to mention those details? Are these issues clear even to the Booth Level Officers and Booth Level agents?

Lessons from SIR of election commission

There had been ample time after the Special Intensive Revision in Bihar. The Election Commission could have learned from that experience. The SIR of election commission has only added the Aadhar card as the twelfth entry in the document list as per the court verdict. Has the Commission forgotten that experience is the best teacher?

We must appreciate the efforts of the SIR of election commission to print the forms in mother tongue. We have seen that the forms are printed in Bengali Version.

Did they show any intent to simplify the form? Even we had noticed that the Booth Level Officers are claiming in front of the cameras that there are a lot of questions which have not been addressed thoroughly in the subsequent meetings. Very pertinent questions arise:

• If the BLO seems to deviate the order, will it come under the microscopic lenses of the Election Commission?
• Do they have observers to supervise their working procedure?
• If yes, how do they dare to distribute the forms just by sitting in front of a table?

Conclusion of SIR Process

The Election Commission knows even better that Special Intensive Revision (SIR) is a huge and intensive work. Their primary job is to eliminate the non-eligible voters and to  ascertain that none of the eligible voter is excluded;  Like any other  people of sound judgment. Will the EC guarantee that in the Phase 2 of the SIR of election commission?