Chandigarh: Teachers engaged as booth-level officers (BLOs) in the special intensive revision (SIR) of Punjab’s electoral rolls will remain eligible for transfers, provided they complete the ongoing revision exercise, chief electoral officer Anindita Mitra assured a delegation of the Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) on Thursday.A DTF delegation, led by state president Vikram Dev Singh, met the CEO to raise issues concerning BLOs and supervisors engaged in the electoral roll revision.According to the DTF, the Election Commission had, through a June 16 communication, barred the transfer of BLOs and supervisors till Oct 1, when the revision exercise concludes. The organisation said the CEO approved an education department proposal allowing employees who had applied for transfers, or may do so, to remain eligible, subject to completing SIR at their present place of posting.The DTF also sought a reasonable honorarium for BLOs and supervisors on election duty. It said the CEO agreed the demand was justified and assured the delegation that efforts would be made to find a solution.Mitra also informed the delegation that five data entry operators would be deployed at every sub-divisional magistrate office to assist with the revision exercise. A proposal to appoint an additional assistant at polling booths with more than 1,200 electors is also under consideration, she said.The DTF urged the Election Commission to rationalise BLO duties assigned to teachers so that academic work is not affected. The CEO said the issue would be considered after the revision exercise.According to the DTF, 16,438 of Punjab’s 24,453 BLOs — about 67% — are govt school teachers.
