No need to doubt transparency of SIR in Jharkhand, says CEO

Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls began in all 29,571 booths in Jharkhand on June 30 when Booth Level Officers (BLO) and Booth Level Agents (BLA)-2 met the local public, followed by distribution of census forms. So far, 82% of voters have been registered. There are 31,892 BLOs involved for 2.64 million voters. In an interview, Jharkhand Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) K. Ravi Kumar says there is no need to doubt the SIR process regarding transparency. He says the SIR is meant to ensure constitutional rights to Indian citizens. excerpts:

SIR has already been implemented in other states. Do you find it challenging in Jharkhand?

Jharkhand is not a challenge. The information is very clear; the election commission instructions are very clear. Wherever there is misinformation and half-truths, we address the problem. We have provided intensive training for all field officers and now they are very clear about the SIR process. I don’t feel any problem in enumeration process and verification process. In Jharkhand, the process will be smooth.

Several leaders of the ruling parties term the SIR as a threat to constitutional law.

The SIR is to ensure the constitutional rights of the people. It is an exclusive right given to citizens under Article 326. Only Indian citizens who have reached the age of 18 and live in the area are eligible to vote. Since it is a constitutional right, no body can deny such a right to a voter living in Jharkhand. So it is the responsibility of all the election machinery operating in Jharkhand to ensure that the constitutional rights of the people are ensured. No eligible citizen needs to worry about his constitutional right to vote.

There is a fear among minorities that their names will be erased.

The SIR is supposed to ensure the cleaning of electoral rolls. Over time, some data has accumulated in the electoral rolls and some people have made false statements about their nationality and their names appear in the electoral rolls. Names of voters falling under five categories — absentee, permanently displaced, deceased, duplicate and non-Indian will not be included in the proposal to publish the voter list. Both legal and illegal foreign nationals live in India and Jharkhand. Both categories cannot register as voters. These two categories come under “refuse to sign enumeration forms” and it is very clear that the enumeration form is for citizens of India only. If you are not a citizen, you must return the BLO enumeration form without a signature. So only these five category names will be removed and all other names will be registered.

What steps are being taken to maintain transparency in the SIR process?

The entire SIR process is designed to be a transparent process. In a sense, the transparent process is the first step in the participatory process. Political parties have participation from BLO level as BLA 2. So 75,000 BLA 2 were appointed at booth level. Then from ERÚ (Electoral Registration Officer) and DEO (District Election Officer). A list of five categories would be prepared with the participation of BLA 2. It would also be published in all polling stations, in all panchayat bhavans and would also be available on the CEO and DEO websites. A hard copy will also be provided to the political parties whose names will be removed due to the five categories and they also have the right to object to the same. In the final rolls, whenever it is published, they can object. As BLOs move in the field, BLA 2 can also move with them. This is a concurrent audit process. It will be open to the media and the general public. There is no doubt about the SIR process when it comes to transparency.

Opposition parties in Jharkhand often claim that infiltrators are on the rise in Santhal Pargana. Are there any special arrangements for this area?

I have made it very clear that the SIR process is only for citizens of India and foreign nationals living legally or illegally cannot participate. Making a false statement is a criminal offence. BLA 2 and political parties are involved in all phases and whenever they find any problem they can register the problem with BLO, ERÚ, AERO and DEO. We are only interested in Indian citizens and if foreign nationals are living in Jharkhand legally or illegally, the relevant authority will take care of it.

Many migrant workers from Jharkhand are working abroad. Are any special measures taken?

If you are an Indian citizen living outside the country, you are eligible to register as a voter under Section 2A of the RP Act, 1950 and you must submit an enumeration form. When they live outside the country, they can submit the form online along with their passport details and any family member living in India can sign the form on their behalf and indicate their relationship. They can also contact the BLO directly.