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Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma assures a fair electoral roll revision, promising no harassment for citizens while ensuring non-citizens are kept off the voter list.
Shillong, September 10: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday assured the Assembly that the state government will ensure a fair approach during the upcoming Summary Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls, balancing accuracy with the protection of citizens’ rights.
Replying to a cut motion, Sangma emphasized that the revision aims to correct errors, eliminate duplicate entries, and verify doubtful records through house-to-house enumeration. Every elector will be required to submit an enumeration form.
To ease the process for senior citizens, he clarified that individuals registered on or before January 1, 2003, will not need to provide fresh documents—a step approved by the Election Commission of India to minimize inconvenience.
Highlighting demographic changes in the past two decades due to urbanization and migration, Sangma said the revision was necessary to maintain an accurate and credible voter list. He further assured that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) will receive proper training on household visits, document verification, and handling claims and objections.
Acknowledging concerns about rural and border residents facing difficulties in producing documents, Sangma stated: “Genuine citizens will not be disenfranchised because of procedural difficulties.”
Opposition members had expressed fears of harassment during the verification process. Responding to these concerns, the Chief Minister stressed that the government’s approach would be facilitative rather than punitive, ensuring that the electoral roll inspires public trust and transparency.