Ranchi DC flags more training need for BLOs after voter mapping camps

Ranchi: After special camps on Saturday and Sunday for unmapped voters, Ranchi deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri on Monday said that booth level officers (BLOs) need more or proper training and understanding on using the ECINET app to find out names of voters from the 2003 electoral roll and get them mapped.

Bhajantri made the comment after receiving feedback from the camps, which were organised amid concerns over low public interest, particularly in urban areas, in the SIR process and in getting their names mapped with the voter list that was prepared in Jharkhand in 2003.

Officials said the camps aimed to boost awareness and improve participation in the ongoing verification and mapping exercise. Despite initial worries, the district administration reported improved engagement during the two-day drive.

“The response has been fairly good,” Bhajantri said, adding that residents can continue approaching BLOs for assistance till June 15. The list of unmapped voters was released on May 23 by the Election Commission. In between, the special camps were organised in as the voter response was low.

“We have instructed the electoral registration officers, assistant EROs and BLO supervisors to provide hands-on training to the BLOs during the meetings so that they can handle the app properly and with ease,” Bhajantri said.

State’s chief electoral officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar, who also visited some booths, said that the response was encouraging and it was good to see people visiting the camps in their respective areas for getting themselves mapped.

“On Friday, in the Ranchi constituency, the mapping figure reached 48.54%, and after the special camps on Saturday and Sunday, the percentage rose to 50.79. Similarly, in Hatia constituency, the mapping figure was 48.18%, which rose to 50.26% after the camps,” he said.

In The district, the mapped electors increased from 11,99,917 on June 6 to 12,22,898 on June 8.