The Hindu : Absenteeism, apathy mar roll revision

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 21, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu-Chennai

Absenteeism, apathy mar roll revision

By Saptarshi Bhattacharya

CHENNAI NOV. 20 . The summary revision of electoral roll undertaken by the Chennai Corporation in 14 Assembly constituencies in the city has been marked by absenteeism and low public response.

Today, many of the designated centres at the polling stations where Corporation schoolteachers were to distribute and receive application forms, were deserted. Corporation officials said some of them could have availed themselves of half-a-day's leave for Karthigai Deepam under optional religious holidays.

The designated centres at Corporation schools on Cheran Street in MMDA Colony, Arumbakkam, and on Subbarayan Street in Aminjikarai, wore a desolate look. The schools were closed but even the teachers who were to man the booths for receiving applications, were absent. At the Subbarayan Street School, a Corporation staffer working in the adjacent civic body office said there were enquiries by many people about the electoral roll revision as the teachers had not turned up.

Later in the afternoon, when the officials at the zonal office were informed about their absence, they posted alternate staff at the designated locations. Enquiries revealed that even on Sunday when the Corporation had a special drive for inclusion and deletion of names from the rolls, absenteeism was reported from many centres.

A team of officials from the Chief Electoral Officer's office inspected the exercise on Sunday and detected absenteeism in many schools. The Corporation Commissioner also issued an order asking all designated officers to attend to their duties without fail.

Meanwhile, the officials said they had distributed about 4,000 applications so far. The Corporation has decided not to allow distribution or receipt of bulk applications during the current drive. Videography of freshly included and residual voters for issue of EPIC will be taken up on November 22. The cards will be issued after the publication of the supplement roll on January 17, the officials said.

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Absenteeism, apathy mar roll revision