Docu confusion, tech glitches and upload delay mark first day of SIR form submission
Times of India | 15 November 2025
Kolkata: Technical glitches, delays in uploading data on the BLO app, mismatched information and confusing instructions by the BLOs plagued the SIR form submission process in Kolkata on Friday.
By Friday early afternoon, about 13 lakh filled form details were entered and uploaded on the BLO App.
According to the BLOs, uploading data from the manually written forms to the BLO app is taking a long 20 minutes. "We have written a letter to the ECI, seeking permission to involve BLO supervisor, ERO and AERO in the data entry and form uploading works. If EC permits, they will do the work on their desktops or laptops, which will bring pace to the process," the official added.
Meanwhile, the process of collecting forms has led to confusion among citizens over which documents need to be shown. Different BLOs are asking for different documents. Raja Mitra, a Ranikuthi resident, said: "We were asked to show the original Aadhaar card and voter card. My brother was not in the house, so he was asked over phone to send photographs of the Aadhaar and voter card; otherwise, his form would not be accepted and he must appear to the BLO for physical verification.
"
Speaking to residents of different areas revealed that the requirements were varying from one BLO to another. While some BLOs are asking for Aadhaar, voter, and PAN cards along with school documents, several others are reluctant to see any document. On being asked, an ECI official said: "BLOs have been instructed not to check documents during form collection. Some BLOs, who are new in this work, may ask for it, but this is not required at all.
"
Preeti Gupta, a BLO in the Shyampukur area, said, "Document verifications depend on the age of the voters. For those who were born in 1987 and after, I am checking their birth certificates." Kabita Murmu, another BLO, said, "Whatever documents voters have written on the form, they are asked to keep a xerox copy of each document."
Baishali Ganguly, a BLO in Salt Lake, said she started collecting the forms even as she was distributing the last set.
"I was waiting for the official stamp from the SDO office, which we need to use while receiving forms. Full-fledged collection will begin on Sunday," she said.
"I ask voters to fill the forms carefully and ensure there are no errors. I am not authorised to check Aadhaar or voter ID cards," Isma Tara Begum, another BLO.
Sanjay Das, a BLO in Haltu, has asked the voters to get the SIR list printed, so the process of form collection will take less time. However, he is not asking for Aadhaar card, PAN card or voter card, but checks whether the credentials of the form match with those of the 2002 SIR list.
Chandan Naskar, a BLO in Garfa, added: "The collection process dwells on the 2002 SIR list. Additional documents are not required if a voter has filled in the form based on the 2002 details."