Delegation urges SIR course correction

Metro India News | Hyderabad

A delegation comprising journalists, public representatives and professionals met Telangana Chief Electoral Officer C Sudharshan Reddy to discuss concerns regarding the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

The delegation consisted of MLC Kodandaram, Senior Journalists Kondubhatla Ramachandra Murthy, Mallepalli Laxmaiah, Amar Devulapalli, A Saye Shekhar, formerly with Door Darshan NV Hanumanth Rao and GK Murthy, Chartered Accountant KD Prasad, Dentist Dr Aitharaju Bharat Babu, and PR Professional Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao. 

The discussions centred on various issues arising from the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR). These included deletion of names from electoral rolls: including those of one or two members of the delegation, spelling errors in voter records, difficulties in tracing voter details from the 2002 electoral rolls, inconsistencies in multilingual entries, inadequate awareness and training among a considerable number of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and, above all, the growing anxiety among citizens regarding the continuity of their names in the final electoral rolls.  

The delegation explained that an atmosphere of uncertainty currently prevails, where many citizens are unsure whether their names will continue in the voters' list or be inadvertently removed. It elaborated on both the practical and procedural challenges associated with the revision process and stressed the urgent need for corrective measures to protect every eligible citizen's constitutional and democratic right to vote. 

They proposed issuing a Permanent Residence Certificate for electoral purposes, extending deadlines, and simplifying procedures to make voter enrolment easier, especially for senior citizens and digitally challenged voters. Such a certificate, it was explained, would substantially ease the burden on citizens while establishing their residential status for voting purposes.

The CEO assured the delegation that all suggestions and grievances would be examined and appropriate action would be taken at the earliest.

GHMC urges voters to submit enumeration forms before July 24 deadline

GHMC Commissioner R.V. Karnan urged all eligible voters to submit their duly filled enumeration forms without delay, emphasising that July 24 is the last date for submission and advising citizens not to wait until the final day.

 Addressing a press conference at the  GHMC office here on Wednesday on the progress of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls,  Karnan, along with Hyderabad district collector

Priyanka Ala and additional commissioner (elections) B. Santosh, said that distribution of enumeration forms has reached nearly 100% across the Hyderabad district, while around 26% of the received forms have already been digitized. He also stated that nearly 24% of the electorate comprises Absentee, Shifted and Dead (ASD) voters.

He further stated that the GHMC has undertaken an extensive awareness campaign through door-to-door visits by BLOs, public announcements via autorickshaws, advertisements in newspapers, television and social media, display of banners, posters and hoardings at prominent locations, meetings with political parties and Booth Level Agents (BLAs), interactive sessions with Resident Welfare Associations, and periodic SMS campaigns to GHMC property taxpayers.

Responding to media queries, the Commissioner reiterated that any voter who has not received an enumeration form should immediately contact the concerned BLO, BLO supervisor, or call the toll-free helpline 1950 to obtain the form and submit it before the deadline.