Hyderabad completes enumeration form distribution, but BLOs struggle to collect filled forms

Hyderabad has completed distribution of enumeration forms under the SIR exercise, but BLOs are struggling to collect completed forms from voters. Repeated household visits, voter unavailability, missing photographs and Bonalu festivities are slowing the process ahead of the August 3 deadline.

Hyderabad: Hyderabad district has completed 100 per cent distribution of enumeration forms to electors, but the BLOs involved in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls are facing challenges in receiving filled-in enumeration forms from voters. The Bonalu period is also expected to limit the pace of the exercise on the ground.

As per the door-to-door visit instructions, the BLOs have to visit twice or thrice, if needed, to distribute enumeration forms. However, the BLOs complain that in some instances they have been visiting four to five times to collect filled-in enumeration forms.

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BLOs of Jubilee Hills, Khairatabad, Musheerabad, and Secunderabad Cantonment assembly constituencies said they faced issues and problems such as electors having left home early by 8 am for work, and the non-availability of fresh passport-size photos.

The BLOs said that despite their seeking to convince electors that if the filled-in enumeration forms were not returned, their names would not be reflected in the draft electoral rolls, but the electors were not showing interest in handing them over. In some instances, BLOs in Secunderabad Cantonment said they were told that women electors were not available at home as they went out for Bonalu festivities.

BLOs of the Khairatabad assembly constituency said they found some electors having gone to their native towns without having filled in the enumeration forms, and in some cases, the filled-in forms did not have either photos or signatures affixed.

With a fortnight remaining until the deadline, electors have limited time left to submit enumeration forms under the revised closure of August 3.