Sanitation Workers Assigned as Election Officers in Hyderabad's Old City
Residents of Hyderabad's Old City experienced an unexpected situation on Tuesday morning during a pre-SIR mapping exercise for the 2002 electoral polls. Instead of encountering a knowledgeable Booth Level Officer (BLO) from the Election Commission, they were met by a sanitation worker from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) who was unfamiliar with voter mapping procedures.
Confusion at Barkas Constituency
The incident unfolded in the Barkas area under the Chandrayangutta constituency. Approximately twenty residents had gathered at Al-Qurmoshi Global School in Salala, Barkas, after identifying an assigned BLO's contact details on the Election Commission website. Activist Syed Jallaluddin Zafar, who assisted with the mapping process, described the encounter.
"We realized he did not even know the role of a BLO. It was only when I mentioned SIR mapping that he came to the location," Zafar stated. "He could not read or write in Telugu. He simply handed over the phone and asked us to enter the details into an online form."
Zafar recorded a video of the incident, which subsequently went viral on social media platform X, drawing public attention to the unusual appointment.
Guidelines and Ground Reality
While no explicit rule prohibits sanitation workers from serving as BLOs, Election Commission guidelines typically designate these roles to government or semi-government staff with basic literacy and administrative experience. Preferred candidates include teachers, anganwadi workers, panchayat staff, clerks, and bill collectors.
One sanitation worker appointed as a BLO explained their responsibilities: "Along with me, around 10 such workers have been deployed for the exercise. We were asked to open the portal on the phone and hand it to the person, who then enters his or her details into a form. If the name appears, they put a tick."
The worker, who begins his sanitation duties at 5 AM and continues SIR work after his shift ends at 2 PM, admitted to literacy challenges. "I cannot read or write in Telugu or English. We were only told to put a tick if their name appeared. It has only been two days since we started this work," he added. He also mentioned attending a training session with promised payment for the additional duties.
Official Response Cites Staff Shortages
Electoral Registration Officer V Surender of the Chandrayangutta constituency addressed the concerns, attributing the appointments to an acute shortage of staff. "Many personnel have retired, and the scale of the exercise is large, so this is a stop-gap arrangement," Surender explained.
He noted that three sweepers were working as BLOs in the area but emphasized that efforts were made to select individuals with at least a Class 9 education and basic proficiency. "However, they will be replaced soon," Surender assured, indicating the temporary nature of these appointments.
This incident highlights the logistical challenges faced by election authorities in managing large-scale electoral exercises, particularly in urban areas with high population density. The use of underqualified personnel raises questions about the accuracy and efficiency of voter mapping processes, potentially affecting electoral integrity.
Residents and activists continue to monitor the situation, calling for more transparent and competent staffing solutions to ensure smooth electoral operations in Hyderabad and beyond.
