Teachers’ body writes to Gujarat CM over BLO challenges during SIR, urges dignity for educators

The Akhil Bharatiya Rashtriya Shaikshik Mahasangh (ABRSM) has written to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, raising concerns over the challenges faced by Booth Level Officers (BLOs) — particularly school teachers — during the ongoing voter list Special Intensive Revision (SIR), and urging the state government to end the practice of issuing arrest warrants against teachers for delays or non-attendance related to election duties.

In its representation, the association noted that as part of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls announced by the Election Commission of India, BLOs are required to conduct door-to-door verification between November 4 and December 4, 2025.

The draft voter list will be published on December 9, followed by a claims and objections period until January 8, 2026, with the final roll scheduled for release on February 7, 2026.

However, the letter highlights that BLOs — most of whom are teachers — are being instructed to carry out door-to-door visits after school hours, which, according to the association, is impractical and burdensome.

It also points out that in some instances, arrest warrants have been issued or disciplinary notices served against teachers unable to attend election meetings or complete assigned tasks on time, which the association termed as “a relic of colonial-era practices.”

The ABRSM further argued that while the Election Commission’s guidelines stipulate that BLO duties be distributed equally among 12 categories of government and semi-government employees, over 90% of BLO responsibilities in Gujarat continue to be assigned to school teachers — a situation it described as discriminatory.

The association stated that teachers perform their duties diligently and with precision, both in classrooms and during national assignments, but such treatment undermines their morale and dignity. It called for the creation of a separate cadre to handle electoral work, rather than overburdening educators.

The letter also cited issues of communication gaps, noting that teachers often receive last-minute orders during school vacations or personal commitments, making compliance difficult. It urged authorities to allow teachers to explain their absence or delay before any action is taken.

Finally, the ABRSM warned that if the practice of issuing warrants continues or if teaching time continues to be compromised by administrative duties, the organization will deliberate on further steps in its upcoming state meeting.

The association has appealed to the Chief Minister to ensure that the warrant system against teachers be abolished, that BLO duties be fairly rotated across all eligible departments, and that a specialized cadre for BLO work be established in Gujarat.