Mangalam (name changed), a Booth Level Officer (BLO) from Erode, has no time for herself. It was 9pm when she explained her role to the BLO. “They told me I have to upload details of 100 forms today. I’m not sure how it can be done. I’m trying my best but it’s exhausting,” said the 54-year-old.
As many as 68,467 BLOs, which include Anganwadi workers, mid-day helpers, teachers and finance workers, have been deployed across Tamil Nadu to complete the Election Commission of India’s (EC) Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls (SIR) to be held on December 4.
The second phase of SIR began on November 4 in nine states and three union territories, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Puducherry, which are slated to go to polls in 2026. According to the EC, Tamil Nadu has 6,41,14,587 voters and each BLO has at least 1,000 voters. It is a race against time to complete the process while managing their regular jobs. The only two words every BLO used to describe the exercise – “mana ulaichal” (mentally challenging).
A long process
The SIR process begins with the enumeration phase, during which the BLO visits each household and provides enumeration forms. Voters will be asked to link with the past SIR which was conducted between 2002 and 2005. The filled forms will have to be submitted to the BLO who will also return to collect them. According to the EC, BLO should try to reach voters three times. Their responsibilities also include identifying duplicate or dead records, checking migration or transfer, and verifying spelling and personal information.
It sounds simple in theory: distribute and collect electoral roll forms for 1,500 voters in their respective constituencies. However, in reality this exercise is not so straightforward as it does not take into account the absenteeism of the voters, the primary occupation of the BLO, the network connection and above all the time spent visiting each house.
An Anganwadi worker in Kumbakonam who was doing SIR work attempted to end her life on November 18 allegedly due to heavy workload. In Kerala’s Kannur district, a BLO ended her life allegedly due to work pressure. In many states like Kerala, Gujarat and Rajasthan where SIR is being conducted, there are increasing reports of attempts on the lives of BLOs due to huge work pressure.
Pramila (name changed), a teacher at BLO in Thoothukudi, said, “It takes at least 20 minutes to explain the form, the details required and inform the voter that the form has to be filled when I come to collect it in two days. But most of them don’t fill it for fear of getting the details wrong, so when I come back I fill it too.”
‘Hurried Exercise’
Roshni (name changed), BLO at Thoothukudi pointed out that they have been given daily targets to achieve. “Sometimes it’s 100 forms to be distributed or 200 forms to be collected. It’s just not possible. Daily training to complete so many items without a clear understanding. Mistakes will happen in this rushed exercise.”
She recalled how in a weekly meeting when an Anganwadi worker failed to meet a set target, the supervisor in charge shouted at her in disrespectful language. “She could not upload the forms as her phone ran out of internet data and hence could not complete her target. The official threatened to take action against her in her daily work,” added Ms. Roshni.
Women who were designated as BLOs had to juggle housework and regular jobs with their SIR work. In addition, they also have to map out their routes, work out safety precautions, and figure out ways to meet their daily needs.
“I don’t even know what day of the week it is. I haven’t even been in touch with my family. We are called to work SIR from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm even on weekends. It is difficult to distribute 100-200 forms daily, there is no time for meals, which is just not realistic,” says A. Punitha, a teacher in Thoothuk.
Punitha’s allotted ward is close to her home, so she carries around 2,000 forms to distribute to her 900 constituents. However, they can only go after school, i.e. after 4 p.m., because they are not released from the role of teacher for this job. “It’s a village. I worry about my safety in the evening because most of the men would be drinking. No one lets us into their houses to explain. So my husband comes with me to help me for my safety and also helps carry the forms. He takes time off work for that,” she added. SIR finishes work by 20:30 and returns home with a maximum of 50 forms handed out and considers the demand to work until 22:00 unrealistic.
Ms Mangalam also had to plan where she would be able to use the toilet as no one would let her inside the house or where clean toilets were not available. “I would just make sure I don’t drink so much water. But the job requires a lot of footwork. I couldn’t find any toilets for a few days. But luckily I found another teacher in my department and I’ve been using her home toilet for the past few days,” she added.
“Health Risk”
Senior doctor and diabetologist Jaichitra Suresh pointed out that skipping meals, not going to the toilet and not drinking would lead to urinary tract infection and dehydration. “Adequate amounts of fluids in the mouth and breaks are necessary to cope with work throughout the day. Continuous work without taking care of the body’s needs will increase blood pressure, sugar levels would crash and sleep patterns will be affected,” she added.
Although the SIR works are to be completed in a month, Dr. Jaichitra pointed out that it would definitely affect the body. “The increased level of work from walking will cause strain and pain in the body. Stress from work will also affect their menstrual cycle. If the body is not used to this kind of work, they will have negative health effects,” she added.
After the Kumbakonam incident, Rani S., Tiruchi district secretary of the All India Federation of Anganwadi Workers and Helpers, decided things had to change. “We are all under stress. We have not been given sufficient training or resources such as mobile phones to upload forms. There is also no travel support or understanding from our regular jobs. How are we supposed to take this?” she asked.
Better working conditions
Hence, they protested for better hours and proper places with connectivity to record details which has now been granted. “There was an Anganwadi helper who didn’t have any proper mobile phones to do the exercises, nor could she read properly. We lodged a protest and got her replaced,” she added.
A lunch worker in Coimbatore, A. Latha, made it clear that the women would leave at 6 pm “No one can guarantee our safety. Now that the officials have relaxed and explained that we can hold camps till 7 pm instead, we will pack up around 6 pm to go home,” the 44-year-old said. In addition, she pointed out, they had to deal with voters’ frustration with finding out the details. “Because we are face-to-face and helping them, it is difficult for many to find a link. They get frustrated and shout at us or threaten us,” she said.
As the work takes up their whole lives, Ms Latha said they have to explain to supervisors at the school and the district office to reassure them if they miss writing in the diaries about meal preparation. “So far they’ve been kind and not asking us about these delays,” she said, but she fears that could change eventually.
Mrs. Punitha is exhausted as she recounts her day. “This work does not rest. My family, colleagues at the workplace, parents of my students and EC officials ask me about my work. I do not feel fully present anywhere to complete my work with satisfaction,” she added.
Dr. Jaichitra noted that if there were much more manpower, said Dr. Jaichitra that there could be a turnover of the workers involved as they would take time off from work to rest and recuperate. “When they get so much work at once, they won’t know how to handle it. If they know it would be a routine, they could plan ahead and take better care of themselves,” she added.
Despite repeated attempts, the Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu could not be reached.
(Help to overcome suicidal thoughts is available on the state health line 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.
