Belagavi: Officers told to include members of nomadic tribes in electoral rolls
File photo of booth level officers issuing census forms to voters in Belagavi. | Photo credit: File photo
The district administration has directed all Special Intensive Review (SIR) officers to ensure that members of nomadic tribes, who do not usually live in one place, are included in the electoral rolls.
“We are taking some measures to ensure the inclusion of nomadic communities and migrant labourers. Booth Level Officers (BLOs) have been given special instructions to see that eligible voters in these communities are not left out of the SIR exercise,” Belagavi Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Roshan said.
He added that BLOs are contacting nomadic families in different parts of the district and filling census forms. “They also track the family members of migrant workers and distribute forms. Even if one family member is traced, they are asked to fill the forms of all their family members. The same applies to students and workers who are voters in Belagavi but are temporary residents of other places,” explained Mr. Roshan.
“However, if they are not already registered voters, steps will be taken to include them after the draft list is published on August 17. They will have to fill Form 6 and register as new voters. They will have to submit one of the 11 documents as per SIR norms,” the deputy commissioner said.
The issue of some officers omitting the names of several members of nomadic communities was raised after the first round of mapping did not reflect the names of some long-time residents. Leaders of some nomadic tribes have complained that they are facing problems in listing their names in the SIR.
“Several families of nomadic communities have been left out of the SIR exercise. Most of the families do not have a permanent address as they move every season. However, even those settled in some villages and towns have been left out,” said community leader Maruti Hussein Durugmurugi. While he received a form, his wife Seetavva did not receive one. Mr. Roshan had her call out the name of the voter in the BLO.
“For example, several nomadic families have been living in Yaragati town for the last 30 to 35 years. But the BLOs were not sending enumeration forms to them. There were cases where the forms were given only to some family members and not to others,” claimed one Prakash Duragmuragi. “At my house, the BLO only gave me my form but my wife did not get it,” he said.
In the Hallur household, which consists of 12 adults, only Khairu was given the form. Her sons and daughters-in-law did not receive them. Their neighbors, the Kalaigars, did not receive the enumeration forms. The four family members – Allabaksh, Davasab, Dilshad and Sabari – do not have voter photo ID and have never voted in the past.
Nomadic and tribal communities are experiencing this as officers have not issued enumeration forms in several villages, especially in remote areas and inside forests, said Alla Baksh Siddi, a member of the Siddi community.
Tribal leader Rajshekar Hakki Pikki said that in a democracy, the right to vote is a fundamental right of every citizen. “Electoral officials should pay special attention to ensure that no eligible voter is left out in the SIR process by providing necessary information and assistance to illiterate people and members of nomadic communities. It is the responsibility of the government and the Election Commission to immediately check the mistakes made by the officials and address our grievances,” he said, claiming that illiterate people were not helped to fill the forms.
Published – 27 Jul 2026 19:18 IST