The Federation of Associations of Revenue Employees of Tamil Nadu announced on Monday that its members will boycott the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) work from Tuesday, protesting against "excessive workload, insufficient manpower, deadline pressure, and inadequate training and funding."
The statewide protest, scheduled to begin on November 18, aims to seek proper training for all officials, the appointment of additional officers as Booth Level Officers (BLOs), and the deployment of sufficient staff strength at the BLO level. The association has demanded that District Collectors immediately stop holding review meetings late into the night and cease the practice of holding three video conferences daily in the name of reviews.
The ongoing SIR of the electoral roll, which is due to conclude on December 4, involves distributing and collecting forms, uploading them online, and holding review meetings. The association claimed that the SIR was being implemented in haste and without proper planning.
The protest will be joined not only by revenue staff (including Tahsildars, Village Administrative Officers, village assistants, surveyors, inspectors, and office assistants) but also by anganwadi workers, noon-meal workers, municipal and corporation staff, teachers, and all department unions who have been drafted as BLOs, the association said in a statement.
Ruling DMK senior leader TKS Elangovan reiterated the party's demand for providing ample time to carry out the updation, ideally extending the deadline until after the Assembly election.
"The SIR was fixed for one month. The SIR work should be completed by December 4. So, this could be the reason for the officials to pressure the BLOs," he said, adding, "I don’t know what problems the Federation of Revenue Associations is facing, but we want SIR to be extended after the Assembly election. That’s our stand. "BJP senior and former Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan condemned the association for announcing the boycott, accusing the ruling DMK dispensation of deliberate "mischief."
She said the state government should extend its cooperation to SIR. "I appeal to the state government to facilitate the democratic SIR process. Government officials can’t agitate against the government because it’s their responsibility to carry out the task of the government," she told reporters.
The association requested that some district collectors should immediately stop harassing subordinate officers in the name of review meetings. It urged the state Chief Electoral Officer and the Election Commission of India (ECI) to intervene immediately to create a smooth working environment.
Also read: TVK holds protest against SIR across Tamil Nadu
Follow us
