Bihari migrants in Bengaluru are in dilemma over SIR

Migrant labourers from Bihar living in Bengaluru are divided over whether to return to their hometowns to fill out the enumeration form issued by the Election Commission as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral rolls.

In the lead-up to the Bihar elections, expected to be held in November, the Election Commission is undertaking a voter verification drive, the first in 22 years.

Many Bihari migrants working in the city expressed mixed reactions when The Hindu spoke to them. Most of them cited time constraints, travel expenses, and a tedious process, even as the Election Commission continues to push the SIR aggressively.

Midway through work

Guddu Kumar, a native of Chhapra in Bihar, explained that workers usually travel home in groups for extended periods after completing their contracted work. However, at the moment, they are unable to go either alone or as a group, because they are in the middle of a project.

“If we leave midway and stay back for a long time, the current manager won’t re-hire us when we return. Finding a new job again is a tedious task,” said Kumar. His co-workers at the construction site agreed with him.

Ashu Raj, who works at a construction site in Ejipura, said that returning home now would be difficult because they would have to travel again for the elections and the upcoming festivals.

During festivals

“Diwali and Chhath Pooja are the two festivals we always look forward to. If we go now, it will be hard to afford another trip soon, especially since many of us just returned in February,” Mr. Raj said. He added that some managers withhold part of the workers’ salary and release it only when they go home, so many currently lack the savings needed for travel.

A contractor, who wished to remain anonymous, confirmed this. “It’s not a very common practice, but yes, some managers do withhold wages to ensure workers don’t leave a project halfway,” he said.

When asked whether they were concerned about missing the chance to vote, some workers said the hassle of going back and forth isn’t worth it. They believe and hope the process will be available again when they return home for the festivals.

Potential consequences

However, others were more cautious and determined to participate in the process, fearing potential consequences.

“There are talks that the government might stop issuing rations and other essential benefits to those who don’t complete the SIR. If that happens, our families back in the village will suffer,” said Ramesh, a tile worker near Suddaguntepalya.

A few workers, whose names were already included in the 2003 revision, said their families were able to complete the current process on their behalf by submitting identity documents, so they didn’t have to travel back. However, officials did not accept documents in the absence of voters if they were registered after 2003.

Though EC has given the option of online registration, most The Hindu spoke to said they were unaware of it. Some said they did not have the necessary documents in Bengaluru to complete the process online.