RWAs roped in to support SIR drive in Bhubaneswar

Residential Welfare Associations (RWAs) across the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) area have joined hands with election authorities to support the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and boost voter awareness, officials said on Tuesday.

As part of the initiative, a meeting of representatives from around 200 RWAs was held at the BMC headquarters on Tuesday under the direction of District Election Officer-cum-BMC Commissioner Chanchal Rana.

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Addressing the meeting, Rana said Booth Level Officers (BLOs) are facing difficulties in reaching voters, particularly in apartment complexes and multi-storeyed residential buildings, as many residents are working professionals and are often unavailable during house visits. As a result, the distribution and collection of voter verification forms have been delayed in some areas.

To address the issue, RWAs have been requested to assist BLOs and create awareness among residents about the importance of participating in the electoral roll revision process. They have also been asked to encourage voters to complete and submit their forms either online or through their designated polling booths within the stipulated period.

Rana emphasized that ensuring an accurate and inclusive electoral roll is a shared responsibility of both the administration and citizens.

He appealed to office-bearers and members of all residential associations in the BMC area to actively support the awareness campaign so that no eligible voter is left out of the electoral rolls.

The meeting was attended by Electoral Registration Officers and senior BMC officials, who discussed measures to improve voter outreach and facilitate smooth implementation of the revision exercise across the city.