In an extraordinary display of dedication, a Booth-Level Officer (BLO) from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi, paralysed in one leg since childhood, completed her crucial election revision work by relying on an unconventional mode of transport—her daughter's bicycle. The Amethi district administration has announced it will honour Rajrani (45), who is also an anganwadi worker, with a special dinner for her exceptional service in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive.
Overcoming Adversity to Serve Voters
Rajrani, a resident of Sangrampur village in Amethi, was assigned Booth No. 212 under the Tilohi Assembly constituency, which has 753 voters. She received the voter revision forms on November 6 and began her work the very next day. With her left leg paralysed from a polio attack at age seven, mobility was a significant challenge. Her solution was both simple and heartwarming: her 21-year-old daughter, Preeti, rode a bicycle while Rajrani sat behind, and together they visited every household in the booth area.
"My daughter rode the bicycle while I sat behind her, and together we visited every household," Rajrani recounted. She handed out forms, assisted voters in filling them, and collected the documents. Understanding the local challenges, she took on extra work. "Most people in my area are uneducated and depend entirely on farming. So, for almost all forms, I filled in the details myself and later got them digitised," she explained. For those unable to visit her, she and Preeti went door-to-door, filling out forms on the spot.
A Life of Service and Resilience
Rajrani is no stranger to hard work and responsibility. She completed her intermediate education and has been serving as an anganwadi worker since 2007. Her duties are vast, ranging from conducting household surveys and overseeing vaccination drives to distributing nutrition under the Poshan programme and teaching young children. With her husband currently unemployed, Rajrani has been the primary earner for her family, steadfastly managing all household responsibilities.
Her commitment to the SIR drive was unwavering. She would sit outside her house early in the morning to fill out forms and ensured all tasks were completed before the December 11 deadline, finishing her work on Monday. "I completed the task yesterday... I feel proud to be honoured in the district for finishing the assignment," she said.
District Recognition for Exemplary Dedication
The Amethi district administration took note of her remarkable effort. Sub-Divisional Magistrate Amit Kumar Singh confirmed that he has invited Rajrani and her family for a special dinner to honour her exceptional service. This gesture highlights the administration's appreciation for frontline workers who go above and beyond, despite personal hardships.
Rajrani's story stands in stark contrast to the pressures often associated with such intensive drives, underscored by recent reports of a BLO in Rajasthan who died of a cardiac arrest, with family attributing it to SIR work pressure. Her achievement is a powerful testament to perseverance and public service, proving that dedication can overcome significant physical limitations to fulfil a democratic duty.
