ECI allows some tribal groups to be enrolled as voters on DMs' OK

Kolkata, Jan. 3 -- Members of Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) in West Bengal, including Birhor, Toto, Lodha Sabar and Kheria Sabar communities, will be enrolled in the electoral rolls without producing any documents during Special Intensive Revision (SIR) hearings, following a new directive of the Election Commission of India (ECI).

Under the order, district magistrates (DMs) have been authorised to approve inclusion of eligible persons from these tribes even if their names did not figure in the 2002 voter list.

Acting on the directive, district administrations have sought block-wise lists of names and habitations from block development officers (BDOs).

The administration will also facilitate issuance of Scheduled Tribe cer...