Bihar SIR: Aadhaar accepted in Patna, not in Seemanchal

PATNA : The special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar has gained pace with 57% (4.5 crore) of the 7.89 crore enrolled voters submitting their enumeration forms by Wednesday. But the process seems to have thrown up an urban-rural divide, TOI found after speaking to officials and people across regions. While officials were seen taking forms on basis of Aadhaar cards in Patna, not many were willing to accept the card in Seemanchal and other parts of rural Bihar, where birth certificates or, in lieu, caste or land allotment documents were being insisted on.

TOI hit the ground for a reality check and found that booth level officers (BLOs), Jeevika didis, shiksha mitras and Anganwadi sevikas distributing enumeration forms in villages and towns of Bihar at a rapid pace.

In Patna and adjoining areas, voters said they have been asked to fill in and sign the forms and submit a copy of their voter ID cards, Aadhaar, or even ration cards, if they don't have any of the 11 documents required by the Election Commission.

Don’t worry, just provide your Aadhaar card,” Rahul Yadav , a ward councillor, was seen telling a group of worried women.

Aadhaar and ration cards are not included in the list of 11 documents mandated by the EC, triggering widespread protests from the opposition India Bloc.

But, in reality, some BLOs in urban areas like Patna say they have been asked to just get the enumeration forms filled in and signed by existing voters and upload them as the EC itself says the other needed documents can be submitted later. July 25 is the last date to submit forms.

Ramashish, of Bikram area in Patna district, said the BLOs distributing the forms had initially asked them to submit the documents listed by the EC.

“Since very few people had any of the 11 listed documents, the villagers were reluctant. But now they have been asked to just fill the columns of mother, father, spouse names, Aadhaar card number and mobile number with signature. That may be the reason why the SIR exercise has gained pace in the last few days,” he said.

Many voters enrolled in urban areas of East Champaran district are getting their names added to the voter lists of their respective villages where they have landed property, revealed BLOs in Motihari, Raxaul, Sugauli, Areraj and Chakiya.

Shiwani, a teacher at Urvarak Nagar in Begusarai, said, “The BLO asked for my voter ID and Aadhaar cards and I faced no difficulty.” Kalyanesh Agrawal of Chatti Road locality in Begusarai said the verification process was smooth.

Awadhesh Kumar Singh, principal of SBSS College, Begusarai, said the BLO visited his house and the process was conducted without hassle.

In Patna, people were seen at Jan Suvidha Kendras in their areas to get their forms filled. Former councillor Bharti Devi said there was confusion among people about the documents required. “But we are getting the forms filled to submit them to the BLO,” she said.

Born in 1949, Dukhani Devi of Mushari Tola feared her name would be struck off the voter list. “Some people in my area said I will not be allowed to vote if I do not submit some papers. I only have an Aadhaar card and voter ID card. Will I be removed from my hut,” she asked. She was told that for now an Aadhaar would do, bringing a smile to her face.


Aadhaar not valid here

However, the real challenge for the EC to seek one of the 11 documents seems to be in Kishanganj, Purnia, Araria and Katihar districts of Seemanchal region, where people did not have proper documents in place and were seen standing in long queues at block offices, desperate to get residential certificates.

More than two lakh such applications have been submitted in Kishanganj district alone in the first week of this month. “This is alarming and should be investigated,” BJP’s deputy CM Samrat Choudhary said.

About a dozen BLOs in East Champaran district’s rural areas, when contacted, said since the Aadhaar card is not a valid document and birth certificate a must for enrolment as a voter, they suggest that voters provide either a caste certificate or land allotment certificate or any specific family register.

At least two to five members of a family have migrated to urban areas for a long time and are not available in the villages.

In Rupani village, in Patahi block of East Champaran, around 25 families are facing this problem as they have no papers. “We have voter cards only and have cast our votes on that basis in earlier polls. The BLOs suggested that we enrol where we live,” said a woman voter.

Those who are employed somewhere else are also finding it difficult to fill in the form. Shyam Bihari Ojha, a railway employee posted at Bongaon, West Bengal, said he is a resident of Babhangaon near Ara, in Bhojpur district. “I can’t afford to take leave to visit my village for the documents of my parents, as is required among the 11 documents. My father is not even aware of the electoral roll revision. My parents have no birth certificate or any other document, except Aadhaar cards,” he said.

Vivek Kumar of village Ratanpur , under Haspura block in Aurangabad district, said his family of 15 electors received only four forms. “We have been asked to attach documents like a copy of a matriculation certificate, Aadhaar card, and residential certificate with each form,” he said. Since all the documents are not available, they might face problems retaining their names on the voter list.

Dhananjay Yadav of Baluan, Ara, said he is a zilla parishad member but had not yet got the enumeration form. Satyadev of Bhakura village has 10 eligible voters in his family but got only three forms. Many in Ara, including Kamlesh Kumar, have similar complaints.

A BLO in Ara said many voters — particularly the elderly — without birth or any academic certificate are reluctant to furnish their land ownership documents.

In Bhagalpur, Indradev Yadav said he and many others were camping at Babupur as their diara area was flooded. “From where will we procure documents?” he asked. Manohar Mandal, Jitendra Kumar, Anil Rai and Bhairo Paswan, also from the riverine area, said this was not the right time for such an exercise.

There was a mixed response in Gaya district. While many said the process was easy, some voters complained they had not received forms. Anwar Hussain of Murarpur, in Gaya town, said all his 13 family members filled the forms and handed them to the BLO. Anju Kumari of New Godown area said the BLO collected the forms with a copy of a matriculation certificate attached.