Hyderabad: The state election commission has rolled back its decision to appoint sanitation workers as Booth Level Officers (BLOs), instead deploying trained personnel for the role, following widespread outrage.The move came after nearly 10 sanitation workers, each having a minimum educational qualification of Class 9, were assigned as BLOs across various constituencies to address an acute staff shortage. However, the decision quickly drew backlash from residents, who alleged that some of the appointed workers lacked basic literacy skills, including the ability to read and write even in Telugu. The issue came to light when at Barkas under Chandrayangutta constituency, a sanitation worker came forward when residents called up on the number mentioned on the election commission website as BLO for their booth.Amid mounting concerns over the processes, the commission undertook a review of the appointments and subsequently withdrew them. Officials clarified that the deployment of sanitation workers was intended only as a temporary measure to bridge the gap created by the recent retirement of several govt employees. “We are appointing Anganwadi workers in their place now and have removed the sanitation workers. The Anganwadi workers are under training now,” said V Surender, electoral registration officer.He said that the workers were never meant to serve as permanent BLOs. “They were assigned purely on an interim basis until adequately trained staff could be mobilised,” he said. The commission has now assured that only qualified and trained personnel will handle voter-related responsibilities to ensure accuracy.
