The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls for 2025 is progressing across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with steady momentum, as multiple districts report successful completion of enumeration tasks by Booth Level Officers during the early phase of the schedule. The revision exercise, undertaken every year as part of the Election Commission of India’s mandate to maintain accurate and updated electoral rolls, has this time placed particular emphasis on grassroots coverage, door-to-door verification and the timely digitisation of data. The island chain’s geography, diverse settlements and scattered habitation patterns make the exercise logistically demanding, which has placed added importance on the role of field functionaries carrying out the work.
In South Andaman district, the revision began on 4 November with BLOs distributing and collecting enumeration forms from eligible residents within their designated polling parts. Among those who completed the process early is Sneha Sikder, the Booth Level Officer for Part No. 140, Shyamnagar-I under Sri Vijaya Puram Tehsil. She completed 100 per cent distribution and collection of enumeration forms within her assigned jurisdiction, a task that requires visiting each household, identifying eligible electors and ensuring that the forms are complete and ready for digitisation. Her completion rate was recognised by the Assistant Electoral Registration Officer of Sri Vijaya Puram, who issued a certificate appreciating her work. According to the administration, timely completion of field-level work is crucial, as delays at the ground level often impact the accuracy and schedule of subsequent verification, claims processing and draft roll publication.
Officials in South Andaman have noted that the SIR process depends heavily on the workforce deployed at the booth level because the islands’ population is spread across rural hamlets, settlements linked by narrow roads and coastal belts that may be difficult to access during certain weather conditions. The achievements of field staff like Sikder help reduce backlogs and ensure that the district’s revision calendar stays aligned with the Election Commission’s deadlines. The district administration has publicly acknowledged the significance of such efforts, stating that accurate enumeration forms lay the foundation for error-free rolls.
A similar trend of progress has been reported from North and Middle Andaman district, where the District Election Office has recognised several Booth Level Officers for completing both collection and digitisation of enumeration forms. Among those acknowledged are BLOs from Diglipur, Mayabunder and Rangat tehsils, working in polling parts Austin-II, Borang, Buddha Nallah, Lorojig, Wrafter Creek and Abhaygarh. The district’s recognition list includes BLOs such as Gabirel Tirkey from Austin-II, Noel Barla from Borang, Daya Shankar Yadav from Buddha Nallah, Ranjit Sosan Tirkey from Lorojig, Birsa Urao from Wrafter Creek and Johney Uraon from Abhaygarh.
District officials have highlighted that the work done by these BLOs has contributed significantly to accurate and timely updation of the rolls. Digitisation, which follows field-level data collection, plays an important role in ensuring data integrity, reducing errors and eliminating duplication. In many remote areas of the district, internet connectivity varies and travel between villages may require multiple modes of transport, making the achievements of the recognised BLOs particularly notable. The district administration extended its appreciation to all stakeholders and residents for cooperating with the BLOs during the ongoing revision process and encouraged remaining BLOs to complete the tasks within the stipulated timeframe.
The Nicobar district, where the SIR 2025 process commenced earlier on 28 October, has also reported high completion rates from its field officers. Two Booth Level Officers from Car Nicobar tehsil recorded exceptional progress in digitisation of enumeration forms. Severina, an Anganwadi worker associated with the CDPO office, digitised 99.37 per cent of enumeration forms assigned to her jurisdiction. Similarly, Alisha Mona from the Education Department achieved a digitisation rate of 97.28 per cent. Their performance was formally recognised at a felicitation ceremony attended by the District Election Officer, who appreciated their diligence in completing the revision tasks.
Officials in the Nicobars noted that terrain, distance between settlements and weather-dependent connectivity make electoral roll revision a demanding exercise in the district. BLOs often travel long distances on foot or by boat to reach households across villages, meaning that high percentages of digitisation reflect both consistency and accurate record-keeping. The administration described the recognition as an opportunity to highlight the work of field functionaries whose efforts underpin the electoral preparation process. The SIR activities in the district are being carried out under the supervision of the District Election Officer, who is monitoring work across all polling parts as BLOs continue door-to-door distribution, filling and collection of forms.
Across the three districts, officials have emphasised that timely enumeration helps ensure that eligible residents, particularly first-time voters and those who have migrated within the islands, are included in the rolls ahead of the final publication. Clean electoral rolls also help reduce common issues such as name duplication, incorrect age entries, missing voter information or outdated family records. The SIR process involves not only collecting forms but also verifying details, digitising entries and conducting follow-up checks where required before the draft rolls are made public.
Although enumeration and verification may appear routine, the islands’ unique geographical challenges mean the exercise demands sustained coordination between district administrations, tehsil offices, BLOs and residents. The Election Commission has laid out a timeline for the revision schedule, and districts are expected to adhere to the sequence of publication dates and claim-objection periods that follow the enumeration stage. Field officers recognised for their early completion of tasks help establish momentum for the rest of the revision cycle, allowing data processing teams sufficient time to consolidate and verify entries.
As the revision continues across South Andaman, North & Middle Andaman and the Nicobars, more BLOs are expected to join the list of those completing their tasks on time. Given the pace of submissions and digitisation reported so far, district administrations anticipate a smooth transition into the next phase of form scrutiny and roll preparation. The Election Commission’s annual revision cycle is widely considered an important mechanism for strengthening voter participation and ensuring that future electoral exercises reflect accurate and inclusive elector data across the islands.
