Nagpur Ranks Fifth in Maharashtra for Book-a-Call Responses; 6.5K Requests Still Pending The Election Commission of India’s online “Book a Call” initiative, designed to facilitate communication between voters and Booth Level Officers (BLOs) during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive, has seen significant engagement in Nagpur district. As of August 4, Nagpur recorded 35,666 requests under the facility, placing it fifth in Maharashtra by volume. However, the system faces challenges with response delays, as nearly one in four requests remains unaddressed. Official data reveals that across the state, 7,51,040 voters have booked calls with BLOs, yet 1,33,512 requests are still pending. Of these, 1,23,772—over 92% of the backlog—have been awaiting action for more than 48 hours. In Nagpur specifically, 25,200 requests have been resolved, while 6,534 remain outstanding. Notably, 6,173 of these pending cases, or 94%, have gone unanswered for over two days. The delay has raised concerns about the efficiency of the SIR process, which aims to ensure accurate voter registration. Officials emphasized that the Book-a-Call feature was introduced to streamline the process, allowing voters to seek assistance without waiting for in-person visits. Through the portal, electors can request callbacks from their designated BLOs for guidance on filling Enumeration Forms, clarifying doubts, or coordinating document collection. Despite the system’s intent, the backlog highlights systemic issues. In Nagpur, 3,932 voters marked as “unavailable” when BLOs attempted contact, contributing to the pending cases. This issue is not unique to Nagpur; across Maharashtra, 53,620 electors faced similar problems, with 3,932 in Nagpur alone.#nagpur #special_intensive_revision #election_commission_of_india #booth_level_officers #book_a_call
