In Kolkata on Saturday, school teachers in West Bengal marched through the city streets to voice three key demands. They represent a group of school staff who have been chosen as booth‑level officers (BLOs) for the state’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voter rolls, a sweep that kicks off on November 4.
The teachers want clear, written guarantees before they leave the classroom. First, they need an official note from either the Election Commission of India (ECI) or the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) confirming that they will not be penalised for time away from teaching when they work as BLOs. As one protester said, “We’ve only got a verbal promise so far. Without a written circular, our leave or pay could be at risk.”
Second, the educators are seeking written security assurances. Several BLOs have already reported threats in parts of the state. The CEO’s office has offered verbal protection, but teachers demand a formal commitment that the ECI will secure their safety while on duty.
Finally, the protests highlighted the problem of over‑crowded polling booths. The commission had originally planned that no booth would host more than 1,200 voters. Yet some booths still exceed that number, making it hard to manage a single BLO’s workload. Teachers are calling for two BLOs at any polling station ready to handle more than 1,200 voters.
These demands come as West Bengal prepares for a three‑stage revision of its voter roll. The BLOs play a key role in the first phase, walking every neighborhood to hand out forms and update records. Whether the government will issue the requested documents remains to be seen, but the protests underscore the importance of clear communication, security, and realistic staffing during this critical election‑day preparation.
Source: ianslive
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