Local poll officers will visit marginalised electors to facilitate SIR hearings: WB CEO

The office of the Chief Electoral Officer of West Bengal has instructed all District Electoral Officers (who also serve as District Magistrates) to personally visit marginalised and vulnerable electors, such as sex workers and tribal groups, to facilitate the inclusion of eligible voters as part of hearings being held for the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Vulnerable communities have repeatedly appealed for relaxation of SIR norms, in cases where they cannot produce documentary evidence or establish linkages to the 2002 list despite being eligible voters.

“The DEO shall cause a public hearing to be held, record statements, and prepare formal proceedings duly supported by videography, along with a verified list of eligible persons identified during such enquiry,” a letter issued by the Additional Chief Electoral Officer dated December 31 reads, referring to a video conference by Senior Deputy Election Commissioner Gyanesh Bharti the day before.

Consult booth agents

The DEOs have also been instructed to consult booth-level agents appointed by political parties during the enquiry and take into consideration their views during the proceedings.

“The Electoral Registration Officer/Assistant Electoral Registration Officers shall accord due consideration and evidentiary value to such proceedings and records while adjudicating and disposing of the relevant Enumeration Forms submitted by these persons, in accordance with law,” the letter states.

As part of this process, a list of all such enrolled electors by AEROs/EROs will be submitted to the concerned DEO and the Chief Electoral Officer, West Bengal.

Appeals by activists

Sex worker welfare organisations such as the Society for Human Development and Social Action, Usha Multipurpose Cooperative Society, Amra Padatik, and the rights group Scheduled Caste Federation had submitted written appeals to CEO Manoj Kumar Agarwal to protect eligible electors who might be unable to find their lineage or provide documents.

A camp had also been organised by the CEO’s office in the red light area of Sonagachi during the enumeration phase. EROs, booth-level officers, and other officials assisted electors in filling forms and distributed Form 6 and Form 8 to include new voters and edit personal details.

According to Mr. Agarwal, there are roughly 12,000 electors in Sonagachi, and linkage with the 2002 voters’ list has been established for at least 70% of them.