Ranchi: Around 4,000 people from tribal communities in Jharkhand have refused to participate in Special Intensive Revision (SIR). However, EC is listing their names and details to keep a record though they have neither filled the enumeration forms nor come forward to participate in the claims and objections phase that is under way, sources said.The number was lower when the SIR exercise in the state began on June 30, and the figure has reached 4,000 now.Speaking to TOI, Jharkhand chief electoral officer (CEO) K Ravi Kumar said, “The details of indigenous tribal communities were collected in the enumeration phase. The process is being repeated in the ongoing claims and objections phase. There are two reasons for doing this — first is keeping a record for future reference and second, with all data in hand, to urge them to get themselves to get enrolled.”“We are listing them as it is mandatory to sign enumeration forms during enumeration period or ‘form-6’ during claims and objections period to include their name in electoral roll,” he explained.Stressing that their names would not be on the electoral roll if they refuse to do so, he said, “Efforts are under way to convince the indigenous tribals to be part of the exercise.”Such refusals were found in Ranchi, Khunti, Pakur, and Latehar, while six more cases were reported in Dhanbad on Aug 17. Earlier, TOI reported about a tribal community from a village in Khunti block of Khunti district refusing to participate in SIR exercise.
