The Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to deploy Micro Roll Observers in West Bengal to assist Electoral Roll Observers and Special Electoral Roll Observers in the SIR process.

The decision follows a proposal from state Chief Electoral Officer Manoj Agarwal, aimed at further scrutiny of enumeration forms and BLO entries.

In a letter to the CEO on Friday, ECI Secretary Sujeet Kumar Mishra approved the proposal, delegating the power to appoint these Micro Roll Observers to the CEO.

The letter said that the observers would be drawn from Group B or above officers of the Central government, as well as equivalent officers from Central PSUs and nationalised banks. They would remain under the “discipline and control” of the CEO during their engagement, and the CEO would be responsible for preparing a database, organising their training, and deploying them across constituencies.

The District Electoral Officer would provide logistical support and security to the observers.

– checking digitised enumeration form entries made by BLOs;

– comparing the electoral roll with birth and death registers;

– verifying documents submitted by electors served notices by ERO/AEROs

– scrutinising documents related to claims and objections;

– observing hearing proceedings;

– identifying discrepancies during roll preparation or revision;

– assisting Roll Observers in statistical analysis;

– undertaking any additional tasks assigned by the CEO or observers; and

– submitting findings to the CEO or Special Roll Observers.

The letter added, “During their engagement, they shall work exclusively for preparation/revision of the electoral roll… At no point of time, the Electoral Roll Micro Observer shall divulge, disclose or supply the information… to any unauthorised person(s).” Micro Roll Observers will be engaged from the draft publication stage until final publication. They will receive a consolidated remuneration of Rs 30,000 for the period, drawn from their “parent cadre”, according to the letter.

It cites that the proposal for Micro Roll Observers was approved “under the provisions of Article 324(6) of the Constitution of India and para 11.4.7 of the Manual on Electoral Rolls – March 2023”.

Earlier, the ECI also deputed Special Roll Observers for the state and electoral districts, who are already working with DEOs and EROs towards “error-free revision”.