Voter Mapping Woes: Outsource Staff Questioned in Pre-SIR Exercise
Hyderabad faces scrutiny over the competence of Booth Level Officers involved in pre-SIR voter mapping, with concerns raised about technology proficiency and educational background. Activists warn of potential risks to voting rights.
Highlights
- •Booth Level Officers (BLOs) Competence
- •Outsourced Staff Technology Proficiency
- •Election Commission Training Schedule
- •Voter Mapping Glitches
Hyderabad, June 7 - As the pre-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) voter mapping exercise nears its conclusion on June 10, concerns have surfaced regarding the competence of Booth Level Officers (BLOs), with a significant portion being outsourced staff including school dropouts.
While nearly 36,000 BLOs undergo training from June 15-24 before house-to-house enumeration commences, critics point to cases such as a female sweeper unable to handle a smartphone assigned as a BLO in Nampally and a sanitation worker at Niloufer Hospital having trouble operating smartphones. "How does the Election Commission expect SIR with such people?" asks volunteer Imran Hashmi from Tolichowki.
Voting Rights Under Threat
Concerns extend beyond technology proficiency; Congress leaders reported to CEO C Sudharshan Reddy that BLOs in some areas are poorly educated and struggle with English. "The BLO who mapped me works in fogging and has only completed Class 7," notes Rajesh Kumar Pulipati, chairman of the PCC Election Commission Coordination Committee. Previous issues included voter deletions, rejection of Forms 6 and 8, wrongful mapping, and glitches in the ECI App.
Activists M A Mujeeb Ayyub and S.Q. Masood highlighted these problems to the CEO, warning that BLOs are handling matters involving citizenship status of vulnerable individuals amidst a "broken and politically motivated system."
The Election Commission oversees 35,985 BLOs, 3,596 supervisors, 867 AEROs (Assistant Election Region Officers), and 119 EROs (Election Region Officers) under 33 District Election Officers. With SIR set to begin on June 25, officials are hastening training at all levels.
"Proper training of officials will ensure a smooth process," an official stated as the last day for voter mapping looms on June 10.
