State-Level Training for SIR of Electoral Rolls Enters Second Day in Bhubaneswar

Chief Electoral Officer R.S. Gopalan leads day-two training as officials from nine districts prepare for SIR of electoral rolls

With the upcoming Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls fast approaching, the second day of the four-day state-level training programme for election officials concluded successfully at the Revenue Officers’ Training Institute (ROTI) in Gothapatna here today.

Chief Electoral Officer R.S. Gopalan personally addressed the session and highlighted critical aspects of the SIR exercise. A total of 09 districts — Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Dhenkanal, Angul, Subarnapur, Balangir, Nuapada and Nabarangpur — were represented by their Election Registration Officers (EROs), Additional Election Registration Officers (AEROs) and Deputy Collectors (Election).

The day-long training focused on the entire SIR process, including methods of voter list revision, mapping of electors with the old electoral roll, data collection and field-level implementation. Special emphasis was laid on institutional preparedness and human resource mobilisation.

Officials were briefed on the appointment of Booth Level Agents (BLAs) by political parties, training of BLAs in voter verification and form handling, identification of 20 key persons per polling booth, and completion of elector mapping with the 2002 voter list. Sessions also covered digitisation of enumeration forms, identification of suitable locations and facilities, scanning, data entry, verification by trained staff, and organisation of claim-and-objection camps with advance intimation to voters and stakeholders.

The training stressed the need to set up dedicated IT cells and help desks at ERO/AERO offices, along with adequate manpower for smooth data management and grievance redressal.

CEO Gopalan directed all officers to ensure full administrative and operational readiness so that the Special Intensive Revision is conducted with complete transparency and efficiency.

Additional Chief Electoral Officer Sushant Kumar Mishra, Deputy Chief Electoral Officers Dr. Lakshmi Prasad Sahu and Smt. Anamika Singh were also present.

The four-day programme, which began on March 10 and will continue till March 13, is being conducted in two sessions daily.