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New Delhi: In a bid to expedite timely and error-free completion of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, the Ghaziabad administration has announced cash rewards, lunch and hotel stay for the BLOs. This comes after FIR was registered against more than 30 block level officers or BLOs for alleged negligence and disobedience during the ongoing SIR of electoral rolls.
Additional DM Saurabh Bhatt, who is supervising the revision exercise, said that BLOs are working long hours to complete the SIR exercise and that the prize money has been announced to encourage them and acknowledge their effort.
Cash reward, hotel stay for BLOs
A cash reward of Rs 10,000 will be given to the top two BLOs in each constituency whereas those who ranked third, fourth and fifth will get Rs 5,000 each. The top five performers will also get an additional 10,000 each and will be invited for a lunch with their family at a hotel by electoral registration officer.
According to an official order issued by the DM's officer, the first five BLOs in each Assembly constituency to complete the exercise will also be honoured once the drive concludes. "An award ceremony will be organised where they (BLOs) will be invited with their families and the district magistrate will hand them commendation certificates," Bhatt was quoted as saying by TOI.
The electoral registration officer (ERO) has also announced additional rewards for the BLOs. According to Ghaziabad ERO, the top performing supervisor will get a two-night stay at a hotel or resort with family along with Rs 15,000 cash reward.
Earlier, BLOs in Pilibhit were rewarded with a jingle safari at Pilibhit Tiger Reserve, a lunch at Chuka Beach, movie tickers and certificated for their performance. Top performing BLOs in Mathura were also given similar perks, including a VIP darshan at Banke Bihar temple in Vrindavan and a family lunch.
BLOs complain of work stress amid SIR exercise
This comes amid growing resentment among BLOs over work pressure during the SIR exercise. Recently, several reports of BLOs taking their lives allegedly due to workload stress have come to light.
The district unit of the Uttar Pradesh Primary Teachers’ Association recently wrote to the District Magistrate of Gautam Buddha Nagar alleging mental harassment of teachers deployed as BLOs. A school teacher, who was assigned BLO duty, in Noida resigned saying she can't handle two duties. Pinky Singh, posted as an assistant teacher at a primary school in Bisrakh block’s Gejha, said that it was becoming increasingly difficult for her to manage both teacher and BLO responsibilities related to SIR simultaneously.
BLO is a representative of the Election Commission at the grassroots level who plays a key role in the process of roll revision. BLO is not a separate post but an additional responsibility given to existing government employees.
Under the ongoing SIR exercises, the BLOs are required to undertake several duties, including collecting thousands of forms, cross checking data with old rolls, conducting physical verification. They are mandated to this under strict deadlines along with their regular full-time jobs.
