Kolkata: For booth level officers (BLOs) across Kolkata, it was a working Sunday despite the ambiguity over whether the EC will extend its Feb 7 deadline to wrap up all SIR hearings in Bengal.
Multiple BLOs used Sunday for their incomplete SIR hearing tasks, conducting home visits to collect additional documents from electors who were unable to submit papers other than PAN and Aadhaar cards. The BLOs are still working on pending tasks and uploading documents. The process for Form-6 applications (for the inclusion of fresh voters) is still underway, while requests for deletion of voters through Form-7 applications are also ongoing.
Debasree Ray De Sarkar, a 50-year-old BLO from the Shyampukur Assembly area who began her work in Oct, was out on SIR job on Sunday. And she wasn't the only one.
"Today, I visited 5 homes to collect documents beyond PAN and Aadhaar. Domicile certificates are being accepted now, so I'm telling everyone that if they don't have other papers, apply for a domicile certificate. I began my SIR duties in Oct and after 4 months of repeating the same work, the fatigue is real. Still, I can't forget that thousands of people's voting rights depend on what I do in the area assigned to me. That responsibility keeps me going. As long as I can, I will keep trying to ensure their names remain on the final roll."
Another BLO from central Kolkata, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "The hearing was part of the entire SIR process, but no one can guarantee we will be relieved once the final roll is out. The ECI is finding new assignments for us almost regularly, and I don't think this will be over soon."
Arup Nag, a BLO from the Kasba area who was also doing home visits on Sunday morning, said: "Verifying those who filled out forms for inclusion and correction has become a very difficult job. Several documents were sent to me from the Election Commission based on their addresses, but when I try to verify them, I find the addresses do not fall under my assigned section. Hence, field visits are the only way to solve the issue. Since it's a holiday, I hope people will be at home. So, the verification can be completed, too, otherwise, it might create issues in future."
Some BLOs stated that they would reach out to electors to get clear photographs from those who previously refused to provide them. One BLO from north Kolkata said: "I have at least 10 enumeration forms that have no photographs. I reached out to get photos, but they refused at that time. I will speak to them again, asking for a clear picture to send to the AERO to upload. I understand they are very annoyed with the entire process, but they cannot avoid it when everyone else is complying. Otherwise, it could lead to the deletion of their names."