‘Special Intensive Revision is turning millions of voters into outsiders in their own country’

Explore how Special Intensive Revision is disenfranchising millions of voters, making them feel like outsiders in their own country.

Pragatipara Sanghatanegala Okkuta and Kalyana Karnataka Horata Samiti organised a one-day workshop on Special Intensive Revision in Kalaburagi city on February 1. It focused on citizenship, voter lists, and the problems faced by poor and marginalised communities due to the SIR exercise.

Progressive thinker Shivasundar painted a stark picture of the consequences of recent SIR-related exclusions. “Removing deceased names and adding those who have turned 18 is the Election Commission’s job. No one opposes that, but denying citizens their official records under the SIR framework is a different matter. Without these documents, millions are being considered outsiders in their own country,” he said.

Mr. Shivasundar cited Bihar as a cautionary example, where 65 lakh people, including 18 lakh Muslims, have reportedly been excluded from the SIR list. Across 13 States, an estimated 6 crore people face similar scrutiny. Those born between 1987 and 2004 are being asked to submit documents proving not only their birth, but also that of their parents in India. “This is not just paperwork; it’s a form of warfare, though there is no bloodshed, but people’s very existence is being questioned,” he cautioned.

Activist K. Prakash explained that preparing the voter list is the job of the Election Commission. However, he said, the current SIR verification process is going much beyond this. “Being on the voter list has always been considered proof of being an Indian citizen,” he said. “Now, even people who have voter identity cards are being asked for extra documents. Poor and marginalised communities are affected the most because they often do not have these papers.”

The workshop ended with an interactive session with students.

Basavaraj Deshmukh, who presided over the session, reminded everyone that every vote matters in a democracy and encouraged holding more such awareness programmes.