Nationwide SIR set to roll out soon; CEOs publish previous revision data
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New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) is working on a possible nationwide rollout of Bihar-like Special Intensive Revision (SIR) starting from August, ET has gathered.It is learnt that chief electoral officers across states have been informally sounded out on the upcoming SIR and the need to start preparing for the same. The first moves have already been made, ET has learnt. Several CEOs have begun publishing (on their website) the electoral roll of the year when the last intensive revision was conducted in a state/Union Territory. For instance, the Delhi CEO website now hosts the 2008 electoral roll - 2008 was the last time the national capital saw an intensive revision.Uttarakhand, on the other hand, has put out the 2006 electoral roll, drawn up after the intensive revision that year. It is expected that this will serve as a cutoff for electoral roll revision as is the case in Bihar where the 2003 electoral roll is being used as the base to validate elector details. Most states underwent their last intensive electoral roll revision between 2002-2004. "There is informal signalling that SIR may happen soon. In view of the ongoing SIR in Bihar, it is felt that it is best to put out the electoral roll from the last such intensive revision immediately so that electors can conveniently check their name on the list," a senior poll official from a state government told ET on the condition of anonymity. Alongside, several state CEOs have also begun the process of recruiting and training Booth Level Officers for SIR. The format is expected to be similar to the one in Bihar, complete with a pre-printed enumeration form, similar categories of electors - born before 1987, until 2004 and after 2004.The move is in keeping with the ECI's June 24 announcement of SIR in Bihar. The ECI order clearly stated that the poll panel has decided to begin the SIR "in the entire country for the discharge of its constitutional mandate to protect the integrity of the electoral rolls." It added that the schedule for SIR for the rest of the country would be the one issued separately in due course.ET has learnt that the ECI had been mulling a major SIR launch across most states starting from the first week of August. However, a final schedule is still being worked out and may be affected as per leanings from Bihar as well as the ongoing debate on the issue.
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