Language barrier troubles non-Telugu voters during electoral roll revision in Hyderabad

Non-Telugu-speaking voters in Hyderabad, Medchal and Rangareddy are facing difficulties in filling Special Intensive Revision forms printed only in Telugu. With many BLOs reportedly unavailable, voters are seeking help from others or using the online English form, while the BJP has sought bilingual forms.

Hyderabad: Several voters, particularly non-Telugu-speaking people in Hyderabad, Medchal and Rangareddy districts, are facing an uphill task in completing their enumeration forms printed only in Telugu as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Many residents, particularly professionals, students and migrant workers from other States in these three districts, are unable to understand sections of the form. They are worried that errors in personal details, addresses or other information could affect their voter verification.

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As the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are missing on the ground, some non-Telugu-speaking people are either seeking assistance from friends or neighbours who are well-versed in Telugu or opting to fill the English form online.

“I can neither read nor understand Telugu. When I asked for forms in English or Hindi, the BLO said that forms are only available in Telugu. With no other option, I took assistance from one of my friends who knows Telugu to complete the form,” said a voter from Madinaguda.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), several voters expressed their apprehensions over the forms being available only in Telugu.

An X user, @halleyji, posted, “Even Telugu people may not be able to read that kind of Telugu. That is the unfortunate reality today. So they should share English forms as well to accommodate English-medium Telugus.”

Tagging the GHMC, another X user, @misrolion, recently posted, “Election Commission Telangana, after waiting for several days, we are shocked to receive the SIR forms in Telugu. A home having four voters has received only one form for just one member. BLO is unresponsive. Feeling absolutely helpless….!”

With a large number of non-Telugu-speaking residents in the three districts, the Telangana BJP recently requested the Chief Election Officer, Telangana, to provide bilingual forms in Telugu and English, or forms in English, for residents under GHMC, MMC and CMC jurisdiction.