Jamshedpur: Working couples and senior citizens living alone have emerged as key challenges for booth level officers (BLOs) during the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Jamshedpur East and Jamshedpur West assembly constituencies, with many enumeration forms still pending despite repeated door-to-door visits.Officials said BLOs have distributed forms across most households, but collection and digitisation have been hit in pockets where residents are unavailable during working hours or require assistance in filling up the forms.East Singhbhum deputy commissioner and district election officer Rajiv Ranjan on Saturday inspected several polling stations in the Jugsalai assembly constituency, including booth numbers 232, 233, 244, 247 and 248, where digitisation of enumeration forms was lagging. He reviewed arrangements at special camps, checked the status of form collection and uploads, and directed BLOs and supervisors to ensure 100% collection within the stipulated time.Additional chief electoral officer Subodh Kumar also visited booth numbers 166, 167, 170 to 180, 267, 272 and 279 in Jamshedpur West. He reviewed camp arrangements, interacted with BLOs and voters, and took stock of the progress in collection and digitisation of forms.BLOs said a sizeable number of pending forms are from households where both spouses are employed. “We have distributed forms in almost every household. Most working couples leave home early and return late. They ask us to come another day, and in many cases we have already made three or four visits,” said a BLO in Jamshedpur West.A private-sector employee from Sonari said he and his wife leave home before 8 am and return after 8 pm. “We know the form is important, but weekdays are extremely hectic,” he said.Senior citizens living alone are another concern. “My son works in Bengaluru and my daughter is settled in the US. I am confused about the documents and some entries in the form,” said Soma Mukherjee, 74, of Bistupur.Officials urged voters to visit special camps at polling stations and submit forms before the deadline. Youth groups in Jamshedpur East have set up help desks to assist residents.
Election officials visit polling booths in Jamshedpur
Election officials visit polling booths in Jamshedpur
