In the heart of Kolkata, a quiet revolution is underway as thousands of dedicated Booth Level Officers race against time to complete West Bengal's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls before the December 4 deadline. The Indian Express spent a day with two such BLOs, revealing the immense challenges and personal sacrifices behind this massive democratic exercise.
The Classroom Teacher Turned Electoral Warrior
Pinki Jaiswal's 600-square-foot apartment in Phoolbagan has transformed into a makeshift election office. Her single bedroom now serves as command center for managing Block Number 115 of Beleghata Assembly constituency, which comprises 751 electors according to the 2025 voter list. As a primary teacher at Sanskrit Collegiate School, Pinki represents one of 80,681 BLOs across West Bengal working tirelessly on this crucial electoral revision.
"This is now our biggest headache," Pinki says, frustration evident as she struggles with the Election Commission's BLO app. "Most of the time the app doesn't work properly. It functions only from 8 pm to midnight and then between 6 am and 8:30 am." The technical glitches have significantly slowed down the process of uploading enumeration forms, adding to the pressure of the approaching deadline.
A Day in the Life of a BLO
Pinki's day begins at 5:30 AM when she wakes up to start uploading forms during the app's limited functional hours. By 10 AM, she's packed her two bags - a tote bag with Election Commission logo containing forms, voter lists, and registers, and a backpack with stationery, phone, water bottle, and the tiffin box her mother insists she carries.
Her constituency presents a unique challenge with its mix of Bengali and Hindi-speaking population spanning both slums and apartment complexes. Her daily 15-minute autorickshaw ride takes her to Jay Narayan Tarka Panchanan Road, a slum with approximately 25 households along the railway line where most residents need assistance with forms.
"Out of 751 electors, I have been able to match details of almost 570 with the 2002 voter list," Pinki explains. "Around 182 names are of those who are either dead or have shifted to other places. Those who can't establish any link with the 2002 SIR will be called for a hearing."
Battling Voter Apathy and Technical Challenges
Beyond technical issues, voter indifference has emerged as a significant obstacle. "They know they have time until December 4 to submit forms. When we go to their homes, they say, why are you in such a hurry?" Pinki shares. Some residents panic when filling forms, leaving the entire responsibility to the BLOs.
From 12:30 PM to 4 PM, Pinki transforms a parking area of an apartment complex into her makeshift office, helping people complete their forms. The scene is often chaotic, with elderly residents like 70-year-old Rajinder Singh growing impatient despite genuine constraints. "I have to go to the hospital where my wife is admitted," he protests when asked to wait.
By 4 PM, Pinki typically collects around 60 forms, but the emotional toll is visible. "They should have given us at least two months to do this. I am a strong person, I can overlook my spondylosis or my parents' illness. But not everyone can take such pressure. I know many BLOs who are suffering from anxiety," she reveals.
Personal Sacrifices for Democratic Duty
The personal cost of this electoral exercise is substantial. Pinki's mother Kaveri voices her concern: "She eats almost nothing the entire day. And she has no time for us - I suffered my teeth ache for a week before she took me to the dentist."
Pinki acknowledges these sacrifices, noting she hasn't even filled her own family's SIR forms. Her evening hours from 8 PM to midnight, previously reserved for reading books, are now dedicated to uploading forms and handling the 200 daily phone calls that have become routine.
Perhaps most poignant is her concern for her students. "I am the class teacher of Class 4 and my students are completely lost now. I am trying to complete my SIR job as soon as I can so that I can go back to them. They have their examinations coming up next month," she says, highlighting the multiple responsibilities these citizen-officers balance.
With the December 4 deadline looming, Pinki and thousands of BLOs across West Bengal continue their race against time, technical limitations, and public apathy - all in service of strengthening India's democratic foundations.
