The onset of an intense special review of electoral rolls in West Bengal has forced migrant workers from the state to make a surprise visit home – at the cost, in many cases, of disruption to their jobs and livelihoods, and of significant unplanned expenses, especially for large families.
During the month-long census phase, which began on November 4, Booth Level Officials (BLOs), who are government employees, will visit the homes of 7.62 crore voters on the current electoral roll.
Each voter must fill out a counting form. About 84,000 census forms were distributed by the end of Wednesday, the second day of the exercise.
On Thursday afternoon, there was a tense argument between Rohija (45) and her husband outside their tin shack in Sector 78 in Noida. “I only have Rs 4,000. I can’t pay for the (train) tickets. You said you would ask your manager for money,” she said accusingly to her husband.
There is an option to fill the form online, but most of the migrants from West Bengal in Noida are not sure how to go about the process. Many fear being removed from electoral rolls, and believe it is necessary for them to be present when community organizations come to their homes. A large number of migrants from West Bengal work as domestic helpers, construction workers and cooks in Noida.
Rohija and her 51-year-old husband, Upikul Islam, who said they were from the Cooch Behar region of North Bengal, are struggling to find the money to make the trip back home. “We can’t get tickets in Tatkal. They say only AC tickets are available, but it costs Rs 3,200. It will cost us Rs 6,400 just to go,” Upikul said.
Rohija also fears for her job. “The employer told me that if I didn’t come back within a week, she would hire another domestic helper,” she said. “I assured her that I would come back within a week, but I don’t really know.”
Story continues below this ad
Alam Mia (53) said he only met SIR a week ago. “At first, I thought my relatives back home would be able to do it, but then they called me and said I had to go myself. We are not educated. We need someone to tell us everything,” he said.
In Sarvaabad village, a hub for Bangladeshi migrant workers in Noida, many houses are empty – their occupants having left last weekend. Among those who couldn’t was Asma, a 43-year-old woman who said she had lived in Noida since 2005. “We are five in the family and I am a widow,” she said. “Where will we get money to buy tickets? I hope we can fill out the forms online, or someone will come and help us.”
The Election Commission of India has set January 1, 2026 as the qualifying date for the SIR, and the distribution and collection of census forms is scheduled to end on December 4. The draft electoral list will be published on December 9.
Asma’s neighbor, 25-year-old Miraj Khan, faces a different kind of problem. “I eloped with my wife Rabita in 2021. She left all her documents at her father’s house. My parents, who live in Howrah, finally accepted her, but she has no documents at all,” Maraj said.
Story continues below this ad
At the Bengal Colony and Market in Noida’s Sector 93A, many seemed unaware of the SIR. “No one told us anything,” said Pooja, 33, who works as an assistant in nearby housing societies. “There were no calls from home.”
Gaurav Haldar, Jagdish Mandal and Jagan Bhoomi, all from Nadia district, said their names and those of their parents were on the list in 2002, the last time a similar review of electoral rolls was done. “We will see if it is possible to complete the process online,” they said.
(tags for translation)SIR of Electoral Lists
