Booth-level officers (BLOs) in Noida and Ghaziabad are expressing deep frustration and questioning the initial rigid deadlines set for the exhaustive Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The Election Commission's decision to extend the deadline twice has brought relief but also highlighted the severe physical and emotional strain caused by the original one-month schedule.
A Grueling Schedule Takes Its Toll
The original timeline demanded the digitization of enumeration forms by December 4. This was first pushed to December 11, and then, earlier this week, the Commission revised the schedule again. The enumeration period for Uttar Pradesh now extends to December 26, with the draft electoral roll publication postponed to December 31 from December 16.
For many BLOs, primarily teachers and government staff, these extensions underscore a painful reality. "If this flexibility is possible now, why wasn't it possible earlier?" asked a senior BLO from Ghaziabad. "The work would still have been done, but without pushing people to illness and distress."
The initial pressure triggered widespread complaints. Earlier this month, a Ghaziabad BLO died, with his family linking the SIR work strain to the aggravation of his existing illness. In November, an assistant teacher in Bisrakh block, Pinky Singh, resigned from her BLO post, citing unmanageable health concerns and distress from juggling teaching duties.
Health Sacrifices and Personal Losses
Several BLOs reported working through serious illness due to the fear of missing targets. A primary school teacher from Dadri, who also serves as a BLO, recounted working with chest congestion and fever while her entire family was sick. "I did not have the option of sick leave. If I had known the date could be extended, I would not have taken so much mental and physical pressure," she said.
Another woman BLO, a primary school teacher in Surajpur, saw her pre-existing varicose veins worsen due to hours of daily walking. "I continued even after the doctor advised rest. There was a constant fear that action would be taken if we missed even one day," she explained.
The grind also devastated personal lives. A Ghaziabad BLO missed his nephew's wedding, an event he had prepared for months for. "I joined the ceremony on a video call late at night. That guilt will stay with me. Elections are important, but we are human beings too, not machines," he shared emotionally.
Extended Deadlines Bring New Tasks, Not Rest
Officials report that over 70% of BLOs have completed 100% digitization, and mapping names with 2003 base rolls is nearly 70% complete. However, the deadline extension did not bring respite. BLOs who finished early were assigned re-verification of "absent, shifted, dead" (ASD) voters, adding to their resentment.
"We thought Dec 11 would finally be the end. Many of us were working till 11pm every night. Now the date has been extended, and instead of relief, we are being given re-verification work," said a BLO from Greater Noida.
The pressure was amplified by punitive actions. FIRs were registered against 21 BLOs in Sahibabad and 60 BLOs and seven supervisors in Noida for alleged negligence. Termination notices were issued to 181 anganwadi workers in the city after their digitization progress was found below 5%.
"Once FIRs started happening, everyone panicked," a Noida BLO said. "People worked even when they should have been resting because nobody wanted their name to be next."
Supervisors, drawn from departments like irrigation, faced an equally punishing schedule, managing multiple booths and constant meetings. Many BLOs now feel the system has acknowledged the exercise's scale needed more time, but only after they paid a heavy price with their health and personal well-being.
