At 70, Odisha's Tulasa Santa’s Name Enters The Electoral Roll
Acting on a complaint that Santa’s name was missing from the voter list, the Nabarangpur district administration has initiated the process to enroll her as a voter, carrying out a field inquiry and submitting Form-6 for her registration
Nabarangpur (Odisha): At an age when many people have already exercised their franchise for decades, 70-year-old Tulasa Santa of Odisha’s Nabarangpur was still waiting to have her name entered in the electoral roll.
Her wait may finally be coming to an end.
Acting on a complaint that Santa’s name was missing from the voter list, the Nabarangpur district administration has initiated the process to enroll her as a voter, carrying out a field inquiry and submitting Form-6 for her registration.
The case came to light in Charpadar village under Manchagaon gram panchayat of Tentulikhunti block. Following receipt of the complaint, the concerned Booth Level Officer (BLO) visited the area and conducted a field verification of Santa’s details and documents.
The inquiry examined her eligibility and the requirements for her enrolment in the electoral roll. Following the verification, Form-6, the prescribed application for inclusion of a new voter’s name in the electoral roll, was submitted before the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) of 75-AC.
The submission marks an important step, though Santa’s name will be added to the electoral roll only after the prescribed verification and other formalities are completed.
The district administration said special attention was being given to elderly citizens, persons with disabilities, people living in remote areas and others who may require assistance in registering as voters or correcting their electoral details.
Officials said Booth Level Officers, Electoral Registration Officers and other election personnel were working to keep the electoral roll accurate and inclusive and to facilitate access to electoral services.
Santa’s case, however, is more than just an administrative correction. For a 70-year-old woman whose name was absent from the electoral roll, the intervention has opened the possibility of exercising a right that is fundamental to India’s democracy.
The administration has urged eligible citizens to verify their names in the electoral roll and approach the concerned BLO or ERO for new registration, correction or other electoral services.
For Tulasa Santa, the process that began with a complaint and a field visit could ultimately end with something simple but significant—a name on the voter list and, with it, the opportunity to cast her vote.
