Representative image for migrants
Credit: iStock Photo
Bengaluru: A recent survey by the Stranded Workers Action Network (SWAN) has highlighted the difficulties faced by migrant workers from Bihar in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Conducted among 338 workers, the survey found that 75 per cent earn less than Rs 17,000 a month, and 68 per cent lacked accurate information on required documents.
It revealed that 75 per cent of the respondents outside Bihar were unaware of the online portal for submitting enumeration forms, and less than 1 per cent had submitted it online. Among those who said an official visited their home in Bihar, only 29 per cent reported that the form was collected along with an SIR document.
Further, 35 per cent of the workers did not possess any of the 11 mandated SIR documents, though 96 per cent had Aadhaar cards and 84 per cent had voter IDs. The findings suggested that the SIR process could disenfranchise millions in Bihar.
Citing widespread confusion and corruption, SWAN has urged the revocation of the SIR exercise. Its findings are based on a phone survey of migrant workers who received Covid-19 relief. While not statistically representative, the report presents strong evidence of systemic challenges.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing petitions challenging the SIR process.