Old City BLOs Face Difficulties in Form Distribution
BLOs cite shortage of forms, resident non-cooperation and overlapping polio duty as hurdles
Hyderabad: From a lack of enumeration forms, polio vaccination works to non-cooperation of residents, the Booth Level Officers (BLOs) on the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls are facing a tough time in the Old City.
While the SIR process has entered its second day on Friday, some BLOs have reported not receiving enumeration forms that are to be distributed to residents. Some BLOs in Purani Haveli, Pathergatti, Dabeerpura and surrounding areas linked the non-availability of forms to the Muharram procession.
A BLO from the Bibi-Ka-Alam area said they had not received the forms as of Friday. Since the area also falls along the Muharram procession route, the BLO said it would have been difficult to distribute the forms door-to-door.
While residents of the Yakutpura and Bahadurpura constituencies have extended cooperation for the process, they have not yet received their forms. Naseeruddin, a Yakutpura resident, said he called up officials for forms. "I hope we will receive them soon and our voter list will be completed without any problem,” he said.
Worst is the situation of the ASHA workers, who have to serve as Polio vaccine administrators from Sunday, while also carrying out the SIR process. Several of them reported that they are yet to receive forms.
"If the forms were kept ready in advance, we could have managed both duties simultaneously. Now, it is difficult to manage both duties," said an Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) worker from Lal Darwaza area.
The form distribution, however, continued in the Haribowli and Puranapool areas under the Charminar constituency and Chandrayangutta, Malakpet and Karwan constituencies.
Some residents, according to the BLOs, are not cooperating due to a lack of awareness of the SIR. “Some are calling us up for forms, while others are not even opening their doors, said Afreen Tabassum, a BLO from the Akbar Bagh area.
Further, in several areas, the enumeration process remained inconclusive as residents go for work during the day, leaving elderly family members at home. As the elderly are not aware of the SIR, the enumeration process could not be completed. In such areas, the BLOs have decided to visit on Sunday.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, GHMC Charminar circle deputy commissioner L. Saritha said the enumeration form distribution and SIR process would be completed on time. “The form distribution was halted in areas like Noor Khan Bazaar, Dabeerpura, Bibi Ka Alam and Pathergatti on Friday due to Muharram processing. The process will go on from Saturday. There are no issues in the Charminar area," she added.
