Let voice of people be heard through SIR

Vox Populi is a Latin phrase that means 'voice of the people.' In elections that decide a country’s political future, what finally comes out is the silent opinion of the people. Without shouting or protesting, voters express their firm stand through their vote. This is the real power of democracy. If we look closer, the true meaning of “vox populi” depends on how honest, accurate, and transparent the voter list is. To ensure this, the Election Commission of India launched a national-level Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the voter list. Unfortunately, ever since this mission began, it has been surrounded by many controversies.

The SIR process began in Bihar, where Assembly polls were recently held. The Election Commission then decided to urgently implement it in states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, where Assembly elections are due early next year. In Kerala, the SIR started during the local body election procedures, which triggered strong protests. While objections in many states were mainly political, Kerala’s concerns were technical. The same staff handling local election duties also had to handle SIR work, creating a heavy workload. The demand to postpone SIR even reached the Supreme Court.

During this time, a tragic incident in Kannur changed the situation. A Booth Level Officer (BLO) named Aneesh George committed suicide reportedly due to workload while on SIR duty. This led to a strike by BLOs, forcing the Election Commission to intervene. The Commission realised that the real reason for the pressure on BLOs was that political workers in many places were blocking or threatening them during house visits for voter list verification. The Commission then took a strict stand. It announced that anyone obstructing the work of BLOs could face criminal charges with up to ten years of imprisonment. Election duty is not just official work- it is a constitutional responsibility. Personal preferences or dislikes of government staff assigned to the duty cannot be considered.

Some BLOs complained that senior officials threatened them with job loss if they failed to complete tasks. But Chief Electoral Officer Dr Rathan Kelkar clarified that the Commission issued no such instructions. Cyber police will act against cyberattacks allegedly carried out by political groups against BLOs. To reduce the workload on BLOs, the Commission decided to appoint Kudumbashree workers as assistants, which is a welcome step. IT hubs will also be set up so people can fill and submit the enumeration forms easily. This will further reduce the pressure on BLOs. Everyone must understand that SIR is part of a comprehensive process aimed at strengthening and ensuring transparency in democratic procedures.