By Amrit Pal Sidhu @Babushahi Networks
Jalandhar, March 31
The Election Commission of India (ECI) is pushing forward with its efforts to ensure accurate and error-free electoral rolls across the country. In a key development, Election Commissioner Dr. S.S. Sandhu visited Jalandhar today to review the progress of the ongoing Pre-SIR (Systematic Intensive Revision) mapping activity in Punjab.
The meeting, held at the District Administrative Complex, was attended by Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra along with senior district officials and Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) from Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts.
Dr. Sandhu, while addressing the gathering, emphasized the importance of maintaining precision in electoral rolls and directed officials to expedite the Pre-SIR mapping process.
He highlighted that the exercise is being undertaken on a war footing to ensure its timely and effective completion.
Stressing the need for meticulous monitoring, he instructed officials to conduct daily reviews of the mapping progress and to focus particularly on polling booths with low mapping percentages.
Progress Update: 72.26% Voters Mapped : Anindita Mitra
Providing an update on the initiative, Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Anindita Mitra revealed that 72.26% of the state’s total voters have already been successfully mapped under the Pre-SIR activity.
She noted that regular reviews are being conducted to ensure steady progress and that district election officers have been tasked with polling booth-wise monitoring to address any gaps or delays.
During the review, assembly constituency-wise progress was analyzed, and potential challenges in completing the mapping process were discussed. Dr. Sandhu urged EROs to prioritize this critical task and find solutions to any issues hindering progress.
He also directed officials to engage with Booth Level Officers (BLOs) showing low performance, encouraging them to enhance their efforts to meet prescribed targets.
The Election Commissioner acknowledged Punjab’s legacy of courage, determination, and enterprise, expressing confidence that the state could set an example for others by excelling in the Pre-SIR mapping initiative.
Special Focus on Low-Mapping Booths
Dr. Sandhu underscored the need for special attention to polling booths with low mapping percentages. He called for targeted strategies to address these areas and ensure that no voter is left out of the electoral rolls.
Motivating field-level officers and implementing effective monitoring mechanisms were identified as key steps to accelerate progress.
The meeting saw active participation from senior officials, including Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Jalandhar Dr. Himanshu Aggarwal, Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Kapurthala Amit Kumar Panchal, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Urban Development) Jasbir Singh, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Amaninder Kaur, and EROs from both districts.
Their collaborative efforts were acknowledged as crucial to achieving the objectives of the Pre-SIR activity.
As Punjab continues its drive toward error-free electoral rolls, the Election Commission’s proactive measures and consistent monitoring are expected to yield significant results.
With over 72% of voters already mapped, the state is well on its way to setting a benchmark for other regions in the country.