SIR form distribution not over despite Telangana CEO’s diktat

Hyderabad: Despite the clear instructions from the Telangana Chief Electoral Officer C Sudarshan Reddy that the booth level officers (BLOs) should handover all the enumeration forms to the voters, the progress has not touched 100 per cent and remained around 95 per cent in the state.

According to the officials in the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), the staff had distributed 3,24,48,000 enumeration forms till date achieving 95.91 per cent. The CEO during his review on Monday had directed the BLOs to finish off the distribution of enumeration forms to the voters by Tuesday.

However, there were reports that enumeration forms were not distributed in many places in the state. The booth level agents, who were getting calls from the voters in their localities were also not sure by what time the enumeration forms would reach the voters.

This has created confusion among voters across the state.

According to the office of the CEO, only Nirmal and Jogulamba Gadwal districts recorded 100 per cent distribution of the enumeration forms. Several other districts like Adilabad, Mancherial, Kamareddy, Karimnagar, Rajanna Sircilla, Siddipet, Mahabubnagar, Nagarkurnool, Wanaparthy, Nalgonda Jangaon, Mahabubabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Khammam have recorded over 99 per cent completion. The Hyderabad district is the lowest with 81.51 per cent distribution followed by Medchal Malkajgiri 88 per cent and Rangareddy 93 per cent.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has asked the supervisors to assist the voters in filling up of the enumeration forms and ensure they paste their photographs on the forms without fail. As part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), Additional Chief Electoral Officer Vasam Venkateshwarlu Reddy visited Jalpally and Meerpet in the Maheshwaram constituency, as well as the Saroornagar area in the LB Nagar constituency on Tuesday to inspect the progress of the ongoing process.

The additional CEO directed the BLOs and supervisors to conduct the 'SIR' program meticulously, ensuring there were no lapses. He emphasized that supervisors must play a key role in filling out the enumeration forms and should help the BLOs in this task. He directed them to utilize the services of volunteers where necessary to help voters fill out the forms without errors. The Additional CEO also instructed the BLOs to ensure that the enumeration forms included both the voter's signature and photograph. During the visit, he inspected areas in Jalpally where Rohingyas reside covering 32 such locations and identified the individuals living there.

Talking to The Hans India, the Additional CEO Venkateshwarlu Reddy said that there were less chances of extension of SIR process. He said that the BLOs would complete the distribution forms within a day or two.