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As SIR takes place in Bengal, migrant workers in Noida calculate the costs of returning home

During the monthlong enumeration phase of the exercise, which began on November 4, booth-level officers (BLOs), who are government employees, will visit the homes of 7.62 crore voters on the existing electoral roll.

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Locked homes at a shanty in Noida. (Tashi Tobgyal)

The beginning of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal has resulted in migrant workers from the state having to make a sudden visit home – at the cost, in many cases, of disruption in their jobs and livelihoods, and significant unplanned expenditure, especially for large families.

During the monthlong enumeration phase of the exercise, which began on November 4, booth-level officers (BLOs), who are government employees, will visit the homes of 7.62 crore voters on the existing electoral roll.

Every voter must fill in the enumeration form. About 84 lakh enumeration forms had been distributed by the end of Wednesday, the second day of the exercise.

On Thursday afternoon, Rohija (45) and her husband were having a tense exchange outside their tin hut in the jhuggis of Noida’s Sector 78. “I have only Rs 4,000. I can’t pay for our [train] tickets. You had said you would ask your manager for money,” she told her husband accusingly.

There is an option of filling the form online, but most migrants from West Bengal in Noida are unsure of how to go about the process. Many are fearful of being struck off the electoral rolls, and believe it is essential for them to be present when the BLOs come to their homes. A large number of migrants from West Bengal work as domestic helps, construction labourers, and cooks in Noida.

Rohija and her 51-year-old husband Opiqul Islam, who said they belonged to Cooch Behar district in North Bengal, are struggling to find the money to make the journey home. “We can’t get tickets in Tatkal. They are saying only AC tickets are available, but they cost Rs 3,200. It will cost us Rs 6,400 just to go,” Opiqul said.

Rohija also fears for her job. “My employer told me that if I did not return in a week, she would hire another house help. I have assured her that I would be back in a week, but I don’t really know,” she said.

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Alam Miya (53), said he got to know about SIR only a week ago. “Initially, I thought that my relatives back home would manage, but then they called me and said that I would have to go myself. We are not educated people. We need someone to tell us everything,” he said.

At Sarfabad village, a hub of Bengali migrant labour in Noida, many homes are empty – their occupants left last weekend. Among those who could not is Asma, a 43-year-old woman who said she has been living in Noida since 2005. “There are five of us in the family and I am a widow, where will we get the money for the tickets? I am hoping we can fill the forms online, or someone comes to our help,” she said.

The Election Commission of India has set January 1, 2026 as the qualifying date for SIR, and the process of distribution and collection of enumeration forms is scheduled to end on December 4. The draft electoral roll will be published on December 9.

Asma’s neighbour, 25-year-old Miraj Khan, has a different kind of problem. “I eloped with my wife Rabita in 2021. She left all her documents behind at her father’s home. My parents, who live in Howrah, have finally accepted her, but she has no documents at all,” Miraj said.

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At the Bengali colony and market in Noida’s Sector 93A, many appeared unaware of the SIR. “No one has told us anything. There have been no calls from home,” said Pooja (33), who works as a help in housing societies nearby.

Gaurav Haldar, Jagdish Mandal and Gagan Bomi, all from Nadia district, said their and their parents’ names were there in the 2002 list, the last time a similar revision of electoral rolls took place. “We will see if the process can be completed online,” they said.

Neetika Jha

Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR's satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations. Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities: 1. Environment & Public Safety "Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms" (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans. "Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks" (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people. "At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi's BS-VI rule" (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital. "Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15" (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents. 2. Crime & Legal Developments "'Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?': Court in Akhlaq lynching case" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government's petition to withdraw charges against the accused. "After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers' accounts" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement. "Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run" (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida. 3. Human Interest & Features "'Had tears in my eyes': Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack" (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father's duty for his daughter. "How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain" (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city. Signature Style Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind "crimes of passion" and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. ... Read More

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