In Rajasthan’s remote Barmer district, the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) campaign has taken an extraordinary turn. With villages scattered across vast sand dunes, officials are now riding camels to reach voters living in far-flung hamlets. The challenging terrain and long distances have made the task difficult for Booth Level Officers (BLOs), prompting the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Badrinarayan Vishnoi to step in and lead from the front.
Desert terrain forces officials to innovate
The SDM recently rode a camel for nearly two kilometres to reach the border village of Bawarwala and its surrounding hamlets. Homes in these areas are located far apart, often separated by stretches of loose sand where vehicles cannot travel. Vishnoi interacted with residents, explained the purpose of the SIR drive, checked their documents, and completed physical verification of voter details.
He said many villagers were unaware of the revision exercise, so the visit also became an important awareness campaign. His effort boosted the morale of BLOs, who themselves often travel by camel or on foot to cover the difficult terrain. In several cases, BLOs must stay overnight in isolated hamlets because returning the same day is impossible.
SIR drive gains momentum despite challenges
Despite the harsh desert conditions, the SIR campaign in Barmer is moving ahead with determination. BLOs are covering long distances between ‘dhaniyan’, small clusters of homes, ensuring every eligible voter is included in the electoral roll. Some travel more than a dozen kilometres in a single day, navigating dunes and scorching winds.
Barmer has emerged as one of the best-performing districts in the state during the ongoing voter list revision. The SDM’s involvement has not only encouraged field teams but also highlighted how far election officials are willing to go to strengthen India’s democratic process.
In these tough terrains, a camel ride is not a spectacle, it is a lifeline to ensure every voter’s name finds its rightful place on the rolls.
