Following public outrage after the reported suicide of booth-level officer (BLO) Aneesh George in Kannur, allegedly due to stress related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) work, the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Kerala has appealed to political parties for assistance.
In a press note, the CEO, Kerala, announced that parties are being asked to nominate additional Booth Level Agents (BLAs) and to set up help desks to collect completed forms from voters, as permitted under the Election Commission of India's guidelines.
The CEO's appeal comes at a time when political leaders have voiced objections about the SIR. The Muslim League has taken to the top court against the SIR. The Congress has also made its intention clear to pursue legal action against the SIR. The state government, too, citing issues with implementation, has similarly requested the Supreme Court to postpone the SIR until the local body elections in Kerala are concluded.
Rathan U Kelkar, CEO, Kerala, expressed optimism that involving political parties by deploying more BLAs could ease the burden on BLOs. "Such initiatives will further ease the workload of BLOs and support efficient completion of the exercise," he said.
He acknowledged the committed work of BLOs across the state, noting that over 96 per cent of the enumeration forms have already been distributed as part of the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls.
Kelkar further stated that District Administrations have implemented comprehensive measures to assist BLOs in collecting the completed forms, ensuring the remaining stages are finalised smoothly and promptly. These measures include setting up special camps, offering local logistical support, and establishing centres with the technical and infrastructure facilities needed to help BLOs with the digitisation of forms within the specified time limits.
It is noted that BLOs across Kerala boycotted SIR work on Monday as a protest against the mounting work pressure and unrealistic targets. However, the CEO, Kerala, insisted that the SIR process is "progressing effectively as a collective team effort, with coordinated support from election machinery, district officials, and field staff, ensuring that no BLO or election official faces any hardship during the operations."
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