The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Rolls revision progressing satisfactorily: Gupta

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 01, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Rolls revision progressing satisfactorily: Gupta

By Our Special Correspondent

SALEM, MARCH 31. The intensive revision of electoral rolls in 38 Assembly segments and summary revision in the rest of the constituencies in Tamil Nadu are progressing satisfactorily, Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta said today.

In the wake of widespread complaints from the public and political parties, particularly during the last Lok Sabha elections, that the names of a significant number of voters were missing from the rolls, the Election Commission ordered the exercise.

"The intensive revision in 38 constituencies, which included the areas falling within the jurisdiction of the Corporations of Salem, Tiruchi, Madurai and Coimbatore, is progressing well as per schedule," Mr. Gupta told newsmen here after reviewing the performance of enumerators. Sixty-65 per cent of enumeration was completed and data entry was going on simultaneously. The work would be completed by August-end.

Deadline extension

He could extend the deadline for the enumeration work by a week. He had sought the EC's approval to prepare electoral photo rolls for new voters in the six Corporations. "If permitted, we can start the work from September." The summary revision in the rest of the constituencies would be completed by July, he hoped.

The Hosur constituency in Krishnagiri district was recently included for intensive revision to keep track of the migrant population.

Senthilkumar and Ms. Pragatha, reviewed the progress of revision of rolls with the Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and Zonal Officers. The grey areas were identified and removed after discussion.

Officials said inadequate funds and insufficient time were delaying completion of enumeration. Funds for painting house numbers were inadequate. The enumerators could not make entries in registers, as EPIC holders were reluctant to produce them.

The CEO, however, told them that the revision should be one hundred per cent and completed within the stipulated time. He also wanted the officials to tone up the percentage of enumeration. Slums and unauthorised areas of habitations should be covered. Earlier Mr. Gupta visited the computer centre at the Salem Collectorate, where the data entries on roll revision were being prepared.

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