In a unique blend of classroom learning and real-world democracy, students from the Department of Political Science at Utkal University presented their hands-on experiences from an internship focused on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral voter lists.
The interactive session took place this afternoon at 3:30 PM in the conference hall of the Chief Electoral Officer’s office.
State Chief Electoral Officer R.S. Gopalan chaired the meeting-cum-discussion. The interns detailed the ground-level challenges they encountered during the SIR process, their firsthand observations, and the practical lessons that transformed theoretical knowledge into actionable insight. They walked the audience through the various stages of the intensive revision, the fieldwork methodologies they followed, and the grassroots realities of updating and purifying the voter rolls.
A lively discussion followed the presentations, giving the young participants a platform to offer their perspectives on how the revision process functions at the community level and suggestions for making it even more effective. The students highlighted both the complexities and the importance of accurate, accessible electoral rolls in strengthening democratic participation.
CEO R.S. Gopalan warmly applauded the students’ dedication and active involvement. He underscored that the youth have a vital role to play in ensuring voter lists become cleaner, error-free, and more citizen-friendly, and he acknowledged the value of the interns’ recommendations.
The gathering also included Additional CEO Sushant Kumar Mishra, Financial Advisor Sanjay Kumar Lugun, Deputy CEO Dr. Laxmi Prasad Sahu, Deputy CEO Anamika Singh, Deputy Secretary Dinamani Naik, and Administrative Officer Saswat Pradhan, along with the Utkal University intern students.
This initiative stands as a strong example of how academic institutions and election authorities can collaborate to build a more robust and transparent electoral system—one that empowers the next generation of citizens.
