An 83-year-old resident of Kolkata's Hatibagan area recently participated in a Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearing at her home, a process initiated due to a 'data mismatch' in the electoral records. Chandraboti Mandal, who was a young child when India gained independence, welcomed the officials with historical perspective, comparing the significance of the current electoral process to the nation's founding moments.
A Smooth Process for a Historic Citizen
Chandraboti Mandal was five years old in 1947 and seven when the Constitution of India came into effect on January 26, 1950. She stated that she had been fully aware of the SIR process since its commencement. When booth level officer Sudipta Modok first visited her residence to distribute enumeration forms, Mandal greeted her by remarking on the parallel between her faint memories of Independence and her direct experience of the SIR.
The hearing was conducted at her home on a Sunday evening by a team including the BLO, the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO), and a supervisor. The issue arose because her name was absent from the 2002 SIR electoral roll, leading to a 'data not found' status when her current documents were uploaded to the system.
"The entire process was very smooth, and I enjoyed it," Mandal told reporters. "The people who came to my house were also very nice, and I told them to come again." While she could not recall the previous SIR exercise in 2002, her memory stretched back to events like the Indo-China war, during which she served injured patients at the Medical College. "I served so many people across my professional career that I couldn't even count," she added proudly.
Family Cooperation and Elderly Participation
Her son, Angsuman Mandal, confirmed his mother's awareness of the procedure. "My mother is well informed about the process. I showed all her documents to the AERO, and it went smoothly," he said. Booth Level Officer Sudipta Modok praised the family's cooperation. "She was very cooperative throughout the process and never felt disturbed, even though I had to visit her residence multiple times and speak to her. The entire family was very cooperative," Modok stated. "This time too, when we were leaving her room, she asked us to come again and chat with her."
Other Senior Citizens Undergo Similar Hearings
The SIR process in Kolkata is also engaging other elderly residents. Soroj Kumar Das, aged 89, born in 1936, had his hearing at his Shyambazar residence on Monday evening. His hearing was necessitated because he was born before India's Independence. He initially expressed anxiety to the Election Commission officials, saying, "I am feeling tense because you are late; I am concerned about it." However, once the formalities concluded, his mood lifted, and he celebrated by playing the synthesizer and singing ‘Khandana-Bhava Bandana’, an arati song of the Ramakrishna Mission.
In a separate case, Archana Das, 85, a resident of Durgacharan Mitra Street, appeared before the hearing panel at her home on the same Monday evening. Her son mentioned that while she has difficulty walking, she was fully briefed about the SIR process. The elderly woman signed the required documents herself but remained silent throughout the proceeding.
These hearings underscore the Election Commission's efforts to ensure an accurate and inclusive electoral roll, particularly for senior citizens whose long lives span the history of independent India. The personal touch of home visits aims to facilitate participation for those who may find it challenging to visit government offices.
