MalkangiriAug 3 [UDN}: As directed by the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Odisha, Government Deputy Secretary Jitendra Kumar Patra visited Malkangiri district to review the Notice and Hearing Phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR)-2026 programme. The visit was aimed at evaluating the progress of the electoral roll revision process and ensuring that all activities were being carried out in a transparent, efficient, and citizen-friendly manner.
During his visit, the Deputy Secretary conducted a comprehensive field-level assessment of the ongoing SIR-2026 activities across the district. He held detailed interactions with election officials and personnel directly involved in the revision process to understand the status of notice preparation, distribution, hearings, and the prompt disposal of claims and objections.
A high-level review meeting was convened with the District Election Officer-cum-Collector, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), and Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs). The discussions focused on the progress of the notice issuance process, the scheduling and conduct of hearings, and the timely resolution of election-related cases to ensure that the revision exercise proceeds according to the prescribed timeline.
As part of the inspection, Shri Patra also visited selected AERO offices in the district to examine the implementation of the notice and hearing process at the grassroots level. During the field visits, he interacted with administrative officers, Booth Level Officers (BLOs), supervisors, and other election personnel to review the transparency and effectiveness of the SIR-2026 programme and to understand the operational challenges faced by the field staff.
In continuation of the review, the Deputy Secretary inspected the Khairput Tahasil Office, where he examined the on-ground implementation of hearings related to claims and objections submitted under SIR-2026. During this visit, Duryodhan Bhoi, Electoral Registration Officer for the 146-Malkangiri Assembly Constituency and Sub-Collector, along with the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer-cum-Block Development Officer of Khairput and the AERO-cum-Tahasildar, accompanied him and provided detailed information regarding the ongoing hearing process and related administrative arrangements.
Later, Shri Patra visited the Mudulipada area, where he interacted directly with local voters to assess public awareness regarding the SIR-2026 exercise. He encouraged citizens to actively participate in the electoral revision process and discussed the various administrative and technical difficulties they had encountered in election-related matters. He assured them that the administration would take appropriate measures to address their concerns and ensure a smooth and hassle-free process.
During the review programme, the Deputy Secretary issued clear instructions to all officials, emphasizing that every notice issued under the SIR process must be heard and disposed of within the stipulated timeframe while maintaining complete transparency and fairness. He stressed that no eligible citizen should be deprived of their democratic right to vote under any circumstances.
He also directed election officials to ensure that members of the public, particularly senior citizens and elderly voters, are not subjected to unnecessary inconvenience, harassment, or mental distress during the revision process. He instructed all officers to carry out their responsibilities with sensitivity, accountability, and a service-oriented approach so that the electoral revision exercise remains inclusive and citizen-centric.
Following the field inspections, another review meeting was held at the Collector’s Office, Malkangiri, where Additional District Magistrate (Revenue) Bedabar Pradhan, the Assistant District Election Officer, the Block Development Officer of Malkangiri, the Executive Officer, and Deputy Collector Sital Mahapatra, along with other officials, participated and extended their support in ensuring the smooth implementation and effective management of the government’s electoral revision programme.
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