PNS
DALTONGANJ
The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has thrown up a peculiar administrative challenge in Jharkhand, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) listing a Family Register issued by a state or local authority among the 12 documentary proofs for establishing Indian citizenship.
However, officials and administrative sources said there is no established practice of maintaining or issuing Family Registers across Jharkhand’s 24 districts. Instead, the state uses Vanshavali, or Family Tree, a genealogy document that can serve as a valid document when issued by a competent district authority.
The situation has become more difficult as revenue officials, including Circle Officers (COs), have been extensively deployed for SIR-related work, leaving little manpower in revenue offices. “Family Tree is to be issued by the CO, finally. And COs are doing SIR jobs. So who will issue Family Tree if asked for?” an official said.
In Palamu, preparation of a Family Tree also requires verification of land records such as Khatiyan. Officials said records are often in poor condition, adding to the difficulties.
Additional Collector Kundan Kumar said officials from the district headquarters to 20 Anchals have been deployed at SIR camps. He assured that all possible efforts would be made to prepare documents required by electors.
Meanwhile, Palamu administration has suspended weekly Jan Samadhan Day at block level until October 19 due to the shortage of officials during SIR.
