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Bengal SIR 2.0: ECI formulating new rules to include Adivasi people

There is a sizeable tribal population, especially from Santhal, Oraon, Bhumij, Munda, Lodha, and Birhor groups, in Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, and Paschim Burdwan districts of South Bengal.

1 min readKolkataJan 11, 2026 05:34 PM IST

ECI sources said they have also faced issues in enumerating members of the Toto tribe in Jalpaiguri and Bhutias in Darjeeling owing to a lack of documentation. (File Photo)

West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Manoj Kumar Agarwal recently said that his office was contemplating easing the rules for people belonging to Adivasi communities under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the state.

CEO Agarwal said, “District Election Officers (DEOs) have been given special powers to include people belonging to Adivasi groups in the electoral rolls.”

A source in the office of the CEO informed that there is a possibility of scores of Scheduled Tribe people being left out of the updated rolls if the Election Commission of India (ECI) does not ease the rules for the hearing process under SIR.

There is a sizeable tribal population, especially from Santhal, Oraon, Bhumij, Munda, Lodha, and Birhor groups, in Jhargram, Paschim Medinipur, Purulia, Bankura, and Paschim Burdwan districts of South Bengal, apart from Malda and the two Dinajpurs in North Bengal.

ECI sources said they have also faced issues in enumerating members of the Toto tribe in Jalpaiguri and Bhutias in Darjeeling owing to a lack of documentation.

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

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