Ranchi: With the special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls entering the claims and objections phase from Wednesday, the state rural development department has mobilised over 2,000 gram sabhas constituted under the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) to ensure that no eligible voter, especially from tribal communities, is left out of the process.The first phase of enumeration under the SIR exercise was conducted between June 30 and July 29. Gram Sabha meetings across villages are now focusing on voter enrolment and ensuring participation by all eligible residents, officials said.The outreach assumes significance amid reports that some tribal families chose not to participate in the exercise, arguing that they should not be required to furnish documents as they are indigenous people. Direct engagement through village institutions has become essential, especially as some tribal communities remain outside the ambit of govt welfare schemes, officials said.Jharkhand notified its PESA rules in January after the Cabinet approval in December 2025. The Act has been implemented in 13 districts and partially in three others, they added.Under the initiative, gram sabha members are being encouraged to identify residents who did not participate in the enumeration phase and assist them in completing the formalities required for inclusion in the electoral roll.Officials said the exercise is important as PESA villages are predominantly inhabited by tribal communities whose representation in electoral and governance processes remains a priority.Rural development minister Dipika Pandey Singh recently visited villages in her Mahagama constituency in Godda district to review the exercise and interact with residents.“Her visit was aimed at ensuring people from these villages are not excluded and that the SIR process reaches the grassroots through active coordination with Gram Sabhas and local representatives,” an official said.The Congress functionary said party booth-level agents were working extensively to ensure that no eligible voter was deleted from the electoral roll.“Voting is our constitutional right, and this right strengthens the country’s democracy. In rural areas, especially PESA regions, Gram Sabhas are helping make the exercise successful,” Dipika added.
