Election Commission's Bold Move: Automatic Voter Registration for Indigenous Tribes in West Bengal

Kolkata's New Voter Registration Initiative

Kolkata: The Election Commission of India (ECI) has announced that voters belonging to three specific indigenous tribes will be automatically included in West Bengal's final voter list.

Members of these tribes will not need to provide any documentation for their registration.

According to officials from the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in West Bengal, the tribes benefiting from this initiative are Birhor, Toto, and Sabar.

In compliance with the ECI's directive, District Magistrates and District Electoral Officers have instructed Block Development Officers (BDOs) to compile information on voters from these tribes in their jurisdictions.

If any individual from these tribes lacks a scheduled tribe certificate, the district administration will issue one on an urgent basis, as per the CEO's office.

Earlier this week, the ECI also introduced special provisions for sex workers and transgender individuals regarding identity verification during the ongoing hearings related to the draft voter list in West Bengal, part of the second phase of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

The Commission has opted for a more lenient approach regarding the verification of identity documents for these groups compared to standard voter categories.

This decision acknowledges that many individuals in these communities face social ostracism and may not possess the necessary documents to validate their status as voters.

For transgender individuals, there are often discrepancies between their original and current documents, including name, appearance, and gender mismatches.

Similarly, monks may experience name inconsistencies due to their transition from lay life to monastic life, thus qualifying for these relaxed identity requirements.