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An official from the CEO’s office stated that if government officials do not assume their duties as BLOs, the SIR process could be severely affected. Those who have not assumed their duties will now face action.
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Kolkata: 143 teachers appointed as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls in Bengal did not assume their duties. They were given a deadline of 12 noon on October 30th. They could face suspension for violating the Election Commission's directive, which the Commission had already warned.
A report has now been sought from Bengal's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), Manoj Kumar Agarwal. An official from the CEO's office stated that if government officials do not assume their duties as BLOs, the SIR process could be severely affected. Those who have not assumed their duties will now face action. Suspension is being considered.
143 Teachers Did Not Take Up BLO Duties
The official further stated that several teachers in Cooch Behar, Murshidabad, and Kolkata North did not take up their duties as BLOs despite being issued show-cause notices. They also did not participate in mandatory training sessions. The respective district administrations have been directed to prepare and submit their lists. It is worth noting that the CEO held an online meeting with all District Election Officers (DEOs) on this issue last Wednesday. BLOs have been appointed at over 80,000 booths in Bengal.
Helpline Number to Address Voter Concerns
The Commission has launched a voter helpline number "1950" to maintain transparency and address public concerns regarding the SIR. An official from the CEO's office stated that people can now use this helpline number, along with various state and district-level services, to raise questions and lodge complaints regarding the voter list. SIR is a regular process monitored by the Election Commission. A similar process was adopted in Bihar. This will significantly reduce the chance of any valid voter being left out.
