Turmoil in Bengal ahead of SIR rollout

Mamata to hit the streets with a mega rally.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

State government employees, mostly teachers, who were undergoing training to function as Booth Level Officers for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR), erupted in protest on Saturday against the Election Commission of India (ECI).

They also protested the work conditions and demanded security cover and official duty status.

About 2,000 BLOs were undergoing a three-day training programme in south Kolkata when a section of participants raised objections over administrative and security arrangements.

In south Kolkata’s Nazrul Mancha, training was underway for BLOs of Bhabanipur, Rashbehari, Ballygunge, Tollygunge, Kasba, Jadavpur, Metiabruz, Behala Purba and Behala Paschim Assembly constituencies when protests erupted, they said.

During the session, a section of BLOs objected to the administrative and security arrangements. They demanded formal recognition of their duty status, proper documentation, and additional security measures.

They also demanded the appointment of an Additional BLO in booths which have more than 1,000 registered voters.

Teachers deputed as BLOs protested the decision of school authorities to mark them as absent in attendance registers during the training period.

They insisted that their participation in the BLO assignment be officially recorded as being "on duty." In addition, a large section of BLOS demanded Central security cover for both training and fieldwork, warning that they would abstain from duty unless safety measures are guaranteed.