Villagers object to BLO demand for power bills to fix error; insist correction must be done by officials
The SIR enumeration form of former Guirdolim Sarpanch Agostinho Antao.
MARGAO
The ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise has triggered uproar as well as fears among a significant number of voters from Guirdolim village in Salcete taluka.
For, the enumeration forms distributed by the Booth Level Officers to the voters as part of the SIR exercise has mentioned wrong address of the voters. In fact, many voters from Guirdolim village were shocked to find their address mentioned in the form as Cavorim-Chandor, only throwing up a host of questions amongst the voters.
What has left the voters an agitated lot is the reply given by the BLOs that they should rectify the address by attaching the electricity bills to a form. Agitated voters have questioned why should the voters take the trouble of arranging the electricity bills when the mistake in respect of the address is done by the election officials.
Former Guirdolim Sarpanch Agostinho Antao told The Goan that he and his family members are victims to the mistake done by the election officials. He said his address as well as the addresses of his close family members has been shown in neighbouring Cavorim area of Chandor panchayat.
“This is absolute nonsense. This mistake on the part of the election officials will have wide ramification for the voters if not corrected by the BLOs and other election officials,” he said.
He added: “The respective BLOs have admitted that it was a mistake to mention the wrong address of the voters. But, they claimed that the mistake has taken place not at their end, but is done by the election officials.”
Saying the BLOs have now suggested to the affected voters to attach the electricity bills showing the place of residence, Antao wondered why the election officials are out to harass the voters when the mistake has taken place at their end. “There may be houses which are on the name of the head of the family, including parents. Now the voters will have to prove that they are the children of the head of the family in whose name the electricity bill is issued. To save the voters from trouble, the election officials should rectify the mistake at their end,” he demanded.
Guirdolim Sarpanch Sonia Fernandes told The Goan that she has been approached by many voters over the wrong address mentioned in the SIR form. “The address of most of these voters have been shown as Cavorim-Chandor. Such mistakes have come to light in at least three-four wards of Guirdolim. We are trying to find a solution to the issue,” she said.
Sarpanch Sonia along with former Sarpanch Agostinho and the affected voters now plan to call on the District Electoral Officer and South Goa District Collector, Egna Cleetus, IAS for her intervention in the matter. “We will request the district electoral office to correct the error at their end and save the voters from the ordeal of attaching proofs of their place of residence,” Antao added.
