In preparation for the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, a four-day state-level training programme for election officials commenced on Tuesday at the Revenue Officers Training Institute (ROTI) in Gothapatna, Bhubaneswar.
The training, scheduled from March 10 to 13, 2026, features two sessions per day and aims to equip officers with the necessary knowledge and skills to implement the SIR exercise efficiently and transparently. The SIR is a comprehensive voter list revision initiative by the Election Commission of India, designed to update and purify electoral rolls by verifying voter details, removing duplicates or ineligible entries, and ensuring accuracy ahead of future elections.
Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Odisha, R.S. Gopalan, graced the occasion as the chief guest and inaugurated the programme. He was joined by Additional CEO Shri Sushant Kumar Mishra, Joint CEO Shri Gopinath Kuamar, and Deputy CEO Dr Laxmi Prasad Sahu, among other senior officials.
On the first day, participants included Election Registration Officers (EROs), Additional EROs, and Deputy Collectors (Election) from districts such as Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Sambalpur, Deogarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Balasore.
The sessions covered key aspects of the SIR process, including voter list revision procedures, mapping of electors with the old (2002) voter list, data collection, field-level implementation, and institutional preparedness. Emphasis was placed on ensuring transparency and active participation.
Discussions highlighted the appointment of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) by political parties, training for BLAs on voter verification and form handling, identification of 20 key persons per polling booth, and completion of mapping with the 2002 voter list.
Additional focus areas included digitisation of enumeration forms, identification of suitable locations with required facilities for scanning, data entry, and verification. Trained personnel will be deployed for these tasks. Hearing camps for claims and objections will be organised at various locations to facilitate easy access and timely resolution of grievances, with prior intimation to voters and stakeholders on dates, times, and venues.
To support effective data management and monitoring, IT cells will be established at ERO/AERO levels, and help desks will be set up at DEO/AERO offices for assistance to voters, BLOs, and field staff during the revision period.
CEO Gopalan directed all officers to ensure practical and administrative readiness for the SIR, stressing that the exercise would strengthen the integrity of Odisha’s electoral rolls.
This training is a crucial step in Odisha’s ongoing preparations for the SIR, which follows similar initiatives in other states and marks a significant effort to maintain clean and updated voter lists after a long interval since the last major revision in 2002.
