VASCO: Baina residents, whose houses were demolished by the state administration last year, on Monday confronted Mormugao Mamlatdar Satish Prabhu and complained against the Joint Mamlatdar, who is Assistant Electoral Registration Officer (AERO) for denying them their rightful re-enrollment in the electoral roll.
Around 100-odd residents, whose houses at Baina were demolished and whose names were deleted from the voters’ roll along with Congress leader Sankalp Amonkar and MMC councillors first rushed to the office of Joint Mamlatdar to seek an explanation as to why he is refraining them from getting re-enrolled in the Mormugao constituency electoral roll.
However, as the concerned Mamlatdar was not present in his office, the aggrieved locals later marched to the Mormugao Mamlatdar Satish Prabhu’s office and briefed him about the hardships caused to them by Joint Mamlatdar and the new recruits from electricity department appointed as BLOs.
The residents complained that the concerned AERO has been working under some political influence and has been denying them their rightful re-enrollment in the electoral roll.
The residents informed Prabhu that since the time their names have been deleted from electoral roll, they have been forced to run from pillar to post to get their names re-enrolled.
They further said that even after submitting new and valid residential proofs and other documents, either the concerned AERO or the BLOs for Baina area have been finding “ways and means” to get their applications rejected during a personal hearing after filling Form 6.
Some even complained that the even for small correction in names, the AERO has been asking for a court order, which they termed as unfair.
They also accused the department of failing to serve them a notice before deleting their names and that the process of getting re-enrolled has become “vicious circle”.
Mamlatdar Satish Prabhu assured them that he would discuss the issue with his colleague.
The aggrieved residents then marched to office of Mormugao Deputy Collector Gaurish Sankhalwalkar, who is also the Electoral Registration Officer (ERO) Mormugao.
After giving a patient hearing to them, Sankhalwalkar assured them that he would ensure that all genuine applicants would be given their rightful enrolment opportunity.
He also asked Congress leader Sankalp Amonkar to ask the residents to fill up proper forms again and then to submit the names so that he can direct the AERO and BLOs to process the application before the ongoing enrolment drives end on October 14.
